Mastering minutes and meeting protocol

course overview

Management meetings would be redundant without high quality minutes. In partnership with the meeting’s Chairperson, the minute taker holds the key to transforming what could otherwise be time-wasting sessions into precise action plans, by producing short, sharp minutes that accurately record and clarify the meeting’s objectives, decisions and “to do” lists.

These everlasting and unchangeable records help organisations learn from past successes and challenges, and are vital to circumvent arguments and pinpoint accountability.

To transform the look and feel and ultimately the effectiveness of your company’s minutes, BizTech is presenting a course which covers the following topics:

MASTERING MEETING PROTOCOL

• Why meet at all?

• Essential elements of meetings

• Rules of conduct from legislation, constitution or common law

• Public versus Private and Formal versus Informal

• Become the right-hand to the Chair

• Process, progress and decision making

• Terminology: knowing your quorums from your proxies

DEVELOPING YOUR MINUTE TAKING STYLE AND SKILLS

• Why not verbatim?

• Why knowing shorthand is sometimes a disadvantage!

• Terrific templates for easy and effective formatting

• User-friendly symbols and abbreviations

• The ultimate meeting preparation checklist

• The power of selective paraphrasing

• Speaking up to sort out ambiguities: appropriate assertiveness

• Indispensable listening skills for improved concentration

• Tighten up your writing: keeping it short, sharp and simple

• Using glossaries and other tools to cope with unfamiliar subject matter

MAKING MEETINGS MORE INTERESTING

• Understand the hidden variables such as group dynamics, status and the seating plan

• Be aware of different personality types and possible agendas

• Recognise how body language can be used to influence people

• Projecting a positive image and attitude so that you are respected as an integral player in the meeting, and not merely ‘The Secretariat’.

who should attend

• Executive secretaries and Personal Assistants who want to enhance their skills

• Mid-level secretaries and Personal Assistants with potential for promotion to the executive level

• General Administrators responsible for meetings and minutes

• New employees who have never been exposed to minute taking before

• Anyone who has been entrusted with minute taking for their team

• Any individual who chairs or runs meetings for small businesses, body corporates, social or sports clubs, charitable organisations, academic committees, etc.

outcomes

After attending this course attendees should be able to:

• Institute fail-safe preparation and planning for meetings and minute taking

• Produce high quality, highly readable minutes in cutting edge formats

• Ensure effective follow up on action points and decision implementation, thanks to the clarity and accuracy of your minutes

• Use your minute taking role to expand your knowledge and make valuable contacts within your organization, while maintaining confidentiality and discretion

• Take the opportunity to impress your executives with your professionalism and competence – minute taking in the right meetings could be your first step in advancing your career!

take home tools

• Training Manual & CD

• All delegates receive one month of telephonic support relating to course content

general

COURSE DURATION

The course will take place over 2 days - 08:30 to 16:30 daily

COURSE FEES

R6 380.00 (excl. VAT) per delegate
( 5% discount for enrolment 2 weeks prior to course date. )

PROVISION OF THE COURSE BY BIZTECH INCLUDES

• Dynamic and knowledgeable facilitators

• Training File and a CD

• Certificate of Attendance

• High quality training venue

• Lunch and refreshments

• Parking

• Quality folder, notepad and pen

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Registration Confirmation must be sent prior to the start of the scheduled course.

the venue

The course will take place at the AstroTech Conference Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg. 

The AstroTech Conference centre is in a gracious mansion in one of the most historic and beautiful areas of Johannesburg.

It is a high-end business focused conference centre with competitively priced packages, excellent facilities and top client service.

Close to major highways, airport and Johannesburg city centre, this state-of-the-art venue offers elegance, discretion, security and convenience with safe parking.

The course will be run from 08:30 to 16:30 daily.

Course venues will be confirmed prior to course commencement.

bbbee compliance

BizTech is BBBEE level 1 compliant. This means that we are a 135% contributor and companies investing money in training their staff through BizTech can also improve their own BBBEE scorecard. Not only does it offer an opportunity to improve your company's Skills Development BBBEE category, but you can also improve your BBBEE Preferential Procurement category. In each case your company will benefit 135% of the spend made.

terms and conditions

Should course expectations not be met for any reason, delegates are given the opportunity to leave before lunch on the 1st day and receive a full refund of the course fee.

Cancellations:

A cancellation can only be confirmed if we are advised in writing at training@biztech.co.za 

For cancellations received more than one week prior to the course:
0% cancellation fee will apply.
For cancellations received less than ONE WEEK prior to the course:
50% cancellation fee will apply. 
For cancellations received within 24 hours of the course:
100% cancellation fee will apply.

Substitutes are welcome at no additional charge at any time prior to the course.

Postponements:
Requests to postpone course attendance must be received in writing at least three full working days prior to the course commencement. Should we not receive written confirmation within this period; the postponement will be subject to an additional fee of R 1,000 (excl VAT) per delegate.

All course postponements or programme exchanges need to be utilized within 6 months of the original course booking or the course fee will be forfeited.

Cancellations on postponements or exchanges are subject to the full course fee

Absent Delegates:
In the event that a delegate does not arrive for the course and no written cancellation has been received and confirmed, the full course fee will be payable

Presenters:
Should it be necessary, BizTech reserves the right to substitute the presenter.

Communication:
When a person registers on BizTech’s website, is registered on a BizTech course or sends an email to BizTech, that person consents to receiving communications electronically or otherwise by BizTech and/or its business partners

Disclaimer:
BizTech wish to advise that they will not be held responsible for any loss, damage or harm, direct, indirect, consequential or otherwise and howsoever arising that may be caused to any person or property during the providing of any services by BizTech to the client.