I’m Not as Good at Pretending to Take Notes as I Thought

Meetings almost always seem too long, but on occasion, they are undoubtedly and abhorrently too long. Sometimes, this is because people get to blabbing off topic, but that’s not as laborious as the excruciatingly long meetings consisting of six different people repeating the same thing over and over until someone finally and mercifully has to end the meeting due to being late for another meeting.

For hypothetical instance, a writer meets with a client to discuss the latest brilliant product that needs to be shown to the world. The client explains everything to the writer, who, after 20 minutes or so, has everything he needs to, for some reason, actually get to work on the project. Instead, the two guys sit and talk for another two and a half hours. Well, the client talks. The writer jots things down in his Moleskine notebook, nods at every sentence and wishes he could go to sleep as his headache turns from minor nuisance to hideous incapacitation.

The Value of Taking Notes

In college, I learned a lot better when I sat quietly and listened to the professor rather than feverishly writing down everything he or she said. However, after a few occasions of being called out by professors (why?) for not taking notes, I developed a scheme to avoid being called out like a fifth grader while also learning. Simply pretend I’m taking notes. This appeases those who think I have to take notes and also keeps me in the mindset of listening and learning.

As a professional writer, I do take some real notes. The important stuff. Not all the intricate details or every sidebar—those are stored in my head and the small number of notes I take bring those out.

Because I know how I learn and remember things, clients can and should bask in my minimal note taking. This is how I operate the best, so that’s a benefit to them. However, often, they seem to get nervous I’m not taking enough notes.

It Must be My Fault

I came to the harsh realization I’m wasting my own time. When clients get nervous I’m not taking enough notes, they panic and repeat themselves. Many times over. The same explanations, the same examples, the same everything. Repeatedly. It’s as if they don’t understand I understand, and that’s probably my fault.

One theoretical way to fix this would be to let the client explain something once, then explain it right back to him or her, making it well known I know what we’re talking about. The problem there is the client then responds by summarizing everything I just said, which was a summary of what he or she said, and then we’re stuck wasting time anyway.

Notes? That’s a Stupid Thing to Blame

Probably. But what is it? Am I not reacting properly to show an understanding of what’s being said? Do I need to ask questions I know the answers to just to create the illusion I’m trying to understand something, even though I already do? Am I not laughing hard enough at the safe humor prevalent in business meetings? Is it the notes? Or is it merely a fact that must be faced: meetings are too long because society taught every person in that meeting it’s supposed to be too long?