Mindful observations make for better recollection

Note-taking and note-making are two approaches to writing down the essentials, as might be the case in a meeting or interview. The difference is that usually people take notes – the note-taking portion of this duo. When you take notes, you write down, verbatim or paraphrasing, what’s being said in a meeting.

Note-making, on the other hand, is when you add additional information to your note-taking notes. With note-making, you’re augmenting the straight "what’s being said" with your own observations, e.g. "John looked uncomfortable when he said this," or "Debi seemed to really be withholding something she seemed to want to say – she made eye contact with me frequently while John was speaking, and her pursed lips seemed to indicate disagreement, but she didn’t say anything verbally." You could also jot down questions that come up for you right then, but that don’t seem appropriate to ask at that moment.

You can jot down such observations during your meeting, or you can make a mental note and "fill in the blanks" when you review your notes immediately following the meeting.

To combine note-making with note-taking, draw a line down the middle (or at the 2/3 mark) of your page. On the left side, note-take, jotting down the specific words and subjects that come up in the discussion. On the right-hand side of your note paper, jot down the "between the lines" observations. The result? A much richer account of your conversation.

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