How to Create Meeting Notes in Google Docs

Taking detailed and organized meeting notes is crucial for productivity and collaboration. Google Docs has a built-in meeting notes feature that makes this process seamless.

This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to utilize Google Docs to:

• Create new meeting notes templates
• Add meeting notes to existing or new Google Calendar events
• Collaborate by sharing meeting notes with attendees

Follow these best practices to streamline meetings and communicate key information across teams.

Benefits of Using Google Docs for Meeting Notes

Google Docs offers several advantages for taking meeting notes, including:

• Real-time collaboration – Multiple attendees can edit notes simultaneously
• Version history – Revert changes and view previous versions
• Integration – Directly integrate with other G Suite apps like Google Calendar
• Accessibility – Notes available across devices from anywhere
• Organization – Template structures notes and action items
• Communication – Easily share meeting notes with attendees

The convenience, organization, and collaboration features make Google Docs ideal for meeting note purposes.

How to Create a New Meeting Notes Template

You can create a reusable meeting notes template to standardize notes across sessions. Here’s how:

1. Open a blank Google Docs document
2. Click Insert > Building Blocks > Meeting Notes
3. The template contains:
   • Meeting title and date
   • Attendees
   • Agenda
   • Notes section
   • Action items checklist
4. Customize the template as needed by adding:
   • Company branding elements
   • Additional sections
   • Formatting
5. File > Save as a Template in Google Drive

Now this template will be available to use for any future meetings.

How to Add Meeting Notes to Google Calendar Events

Google Docs integrates directly with Google Calendar to attach relevant meeting notes.

To add notes to an existing calendar event:

1. Open the meeting notes Google Doc
2. Insert > Building blocks > Meeting notes
3. Select the relevant calendar event
4. The notes template will populate automatically with the event’s:
   • Date
   • Time
   • Title
   • Attendees
5. Share the document with attendees

To create notes for a new event:

1. Open a blank Google Doc
2. Click the Calendar icon
3. Create a new event directly within Docs
4. Meeting notes are automatically attached

Now the notes are linked to the calendar event for easy access and updates.

Best Practices for Meeting Note Collaboration

To enhance collaboration, consider these tips:

• Share notes with view or edit access permissions
• @mention individuals with assigned action items
• Set comment notifications to be alerted of responses
• Use the version history to track changes
• Update attendees by emailing notes with File > Email meeting notes

Integrate meeting notes into your workflows to improve alignment across teams.

Conclusion

Google Docs’ meeting notes templates facilitate organized, collaborative note taking. By following these instructions, you can:

• Standardize team notes in reusable templates
• Streamline note taking with Google Calendar integration
• Enhance transparency and productivity with shared access

Implementing these best practices ensures your organization captures critical details communicated in meetings to maintain alignment.