When and How to Take Notes in Presentations
Key Tip
Focus on what the speaker is saying. Their role is to highlight the most critical information, explain nuances, and provide recent updates or additional vital points that may not be on the slides.
Options for Taking Notes
There are several approaches you can take during presentations:
Sit and listen
Wait for the recording or transcript
Take notes directly on the slides
Take notes on a separate notepad or piece of paper (recommended)
Option 1: Sit and Listen
Sitting back and listening can feel relaxing, allowing you to focus on the speaker and the slides. However, this approach has some limitations. Our brains constantly filter new information; as we listen, some knowledge gets overwritten by what comes next.
The biggest downside is memory fade. By the end of the presentation, you’ll already have forgotten valuable knowledge, and within 48 hours, you’ll remember even less. After a week or two, you may only retain a few key points.
Option 2: Wait for the Recording or Transcript
This might seem ideal—you can listen and revisit later. However, by the time you review it, you may have lost unique thoughts and insights that came to mind during the presentation. Finding time to review recordings can also be difficult in a busy work environment.
The best approach is Option 4: Take notes during the presentation and use recordings only to check specific points.
Option 3: Take Notes on the Slides
Taking notes directly on the slides lets you capture details not included in them, along with your own thoughts. This helps with memory retention and makes it easier to focus on the speaker.
However, notes tend to be fragmented, tied to individual slides without linking together. Once the page is turned, spotting connections, gaps, or opportunities becomes difficult.
Option 4: Take Notes on a Separate Notepad (Recommended)
Taking notes on a separate notepad gives you a broader view and lets you get more value in real time. Ask yourself: 'Does the knowledge have value and require either memory or analysis?' If yes, capture it.
The more knowledge you harvest, the better you’ll spot links, synergies, and deeper insights from both the speaker and your own thinking.
Enhancing the Benefits
To maximise benefits, you need to connect the knowledge as you go. SmartWisdom helps you automatically integrate information and reduces what you need to write by up to 50% without losing details. By removing unnecessary connecting words, the process becomes faster and more efficient.
By the end of the presentation, you’ll clearly understand the key points, your thoughts, and any actions needed. Reviewing this knowledge later is easy and quick, removing the barrier of 'it will take too much time'.
What to Focus on During the Presentation
When taking notes in presentations, I recommend:
Focus on the speaker’s voice – They will highlight key points, updates, and anecdotes.
Look at slides only when necessary – Use them to support understanding, not replace listening.
Real-time reviews – If content is less relevant, review your notes to ensure clarity and connections.
