Psst. You’ll want to scroll down to the base of this page for some exciting news about EA Accelerator, which is coming your way in Fall 2024 and will help you with minutes and much more.
Now that we’ve spent time Deconstructing Your Minutes, let’s turn to how our use of language can elevate those minutes.
Blah, blah, blah … are you stuck in a repetitive mode?
Take a close look at some of your recent minutes. When recording meetings, you want to avoid monotony and the repetition of key phrases used to describe actions or undertakings.
After all, few among us enjoy reading sentence after sentence monotonously stating that “The President noted …” , , “Members asked …” and so on.
Why you should record in an active, rather than passive, voice
Equally important, we want to present minutes in an active voice that reflects the action-oriented nature of our meetings. It may be easy to lapse into a passive voice, recording that, “The committee received a report …” or that “The team accepted an award …” but passive language is a disservice to individuals’ preparation for and active participation in meetings.
With these thoughts in mind, check below for options to consider the next time you’re seeking inspiration … and note (or reflect, observe, confirm, declare or even applaud!) that all such words are provided in the past tense, which is the appropriate choice for recording minutes.
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Shelagh Donnelly’s Action-Focused Verbs for Minutes |
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| acknowledged | adopted | advised | affirmed | |||
| allocated | amended | announced | anticipated | |||
| applauded | appointed | apprised | approved | |||
| arranged | ascertained | asked | assessed | |||
| authorised | briefed | called | charged | |||
| cited | clarified | commended | communicated | |||
| clarified | concluded | concurred | conducted | |||
| confirmed | congratulated | considered | conveyed | |||
| debated | declared | declined | deferred | |||
| deliberated | demonstrated | described | designated | |||
| determined | detailed | developed | directed | |||
| disclosed | discussed | displayed | emphasized | |||
| endorsed | established | evaluated | explained | |||
| explored | expressed | extended | identified | |||
| implemented | increased | indicated | informed | |||
| inquired | instructed | issued | invited | |||
| launched | maintained | mandated | moved | |||
| neglected | noted | observed | offered | |||
| outlined | perceived | presented | projected | |||
| proposed | provided | queried | presented | |||
| ratified | received | recommended | reflected | |||
| reiterated | released | reported | requested | |||
| resolved | retained | reviewed | revised | |||
| secured | specified | scrutinized | sought | |||
| spoke | stated | stipulated | suggested | |||
| summarized | supported | thanked | validated | |||
A new resource for you in Fall 2024
I’m delighted to be able to help you with your minutes, and hope you find these verbs helpful. I also have big news. I”m preparing to launch another resource to help you with minutes, business writing and much more.
Bookmark and keep an eye on my new EA ACCELERATOR© page, as I’ll soon be offering both on demand courses and quarterly live sessions to help you perform at a high level and thrive in your career. You’ll have your choice of a monthly or annual subscription, which provides 10 on demand courses each year, and live, interactive sessions covering timely topics once each quarter.
From its inception in 2013, I’ve written Exceptional EA for assistants who want to perform at a high level, and that’s reflected in all the training I deliver. Your EA ACCELERATOR© subscription provides premium training for assistants and employers who make discerning investments in quality professional development.
