A Note about Notes
Note-taking is a skill I've relied on throughout my life which may seem unconventional: it's not the typical skill one would lead with on a CV or LinkedIn profile. But over the years, it’s morphed into my personal brand: I've become known for "Aarti's Notes," and they have proven invaluable personally and professionally: from introducing me to my now husband who first asked to borrow my macroeconomics notes at University, to the more professional application of cascading information in the workplace to create clarity and generate energy, particularly from meetings or forums where I have the privilege to hear important and inspiring information first hand.
My habit of note-taking began in childhood as a mechanism to document all that I was hearing in class. If I was to be honest with myself, it probably stemmed from a place of doubt and insecurity and gave me the assurance that if I externalized what I was hearing, I could work with it and refer back to it if I didn’t immediately understand it. But over time I realized that we all have different memory strengths. Some of us are more auditory while others have a stronger visual memory. Being more visually inclined, note taking was the adaptive habit my brain leaned on to support my mental processing.
Beyond Transcription
Through the years, I've come to appreciate the impact that pen and paper have for a tactile and sensory experience, elevating my note-taking beyond the mere act of putting words on a page. The smooth glide of the ink across the paper and the freedom offered by dotted paper without lines or limitations add extra dimensions to the experience. Putting pen to paper also serves as my unspoken way of slowing down and entering a mindful state of focus and concentration. It is in this state that note-taking transforms into a visual form of active listening.
My note-taking system revolves around employing simple techniques to enhance organization and comprehension. By using bullets and headings, incorporating abbreviations, symbols and simple diagrams to complement words, and utilizing a highlighter to highlight crucial information and follow-ups, I have created for myself a structured method to capture knowledge. I recognize however that this analog method of note-taking is unconventional in today’s digital age and if I’m honest, I can’t help but feel envious towards those who effortlessly utilize digital note-taking devices. They type at a faster pace than I can write, categorize and store information, and retrieve it with ease when needed. In comparison, my clunky approach can often result in a rather disorganized attempt to locate what I need to find at a later time by flipping through uncategorized pages or old notepads.
As technology continues to advance, I often ask myself the question: will the need for handwritten notes ever become obsolete? Despite occasionally experimenting with digital methods, I've come to realize that writing by hand is a cognitive processing technique for me. It stimulates neural connections and enhances my memory retention. While digital notes may resemble more detailed transcripts, my handwritten notes compel me to capture essential points with greater concision. As such, going slow allows me to go fast. I can process and synthesize information more effectively, leading to a deeper comprehension of the material and ultimately ‘go fast’ in terms of retaining and applying the knowledge I've acquired.
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Synthesizing Knowledge
Note-taking, while important, is just one step in a much broader journey of knowledge acquisition and personal growth for me. It acts as my gateway to capturing, synthesizing, summarizing, and ultimately sharing information. Through this iterative process, I not only solidify my understanding but also refine and expand my thinking. The words on the paper become building blocks, waiting to be assembled like puzzle pieces. Revisiting my notes allows me to engage in synthesis, weaving together different ideas, connecting dots, and uncovering patterns that may have eluded me initially. And as a result, I am able to grasp the deeper meaning and significance of the information I've gathered.
Crafting concise digital summaries from my notes becomes a skill in itself, where I try to distill the facts, data and information into impactful statements and reflections, employing trusted techniques such as Minto's Pyramid Principle. Summarization requires me to strip away the superfluous and capture the ‘So What’ of the message and the knowledge acquired, honing my ability to communicate effectively and incorporate the key points into my daily work.
Paying it Forward
Then, there's the rewarding feeling that comes from sharing the notes. For me, true joy lies not only in possessing knowledge but in the act of giving, of contributing to collective wisdom. When I share my notes, insights, and synthesized knowledge with others, I extend an invitation for collaboration and mutual growth. The most fulfilling aspect of sharing my notes comes when they are valued and leveraged by others. Knowing that my efforts have made a positive impact, serving as a source of inspiration or triggering thought and ideation brings me immense satisfaction. It reinforces the purpose behind my note-taking endeavors and fuels my motivation to continue seeking knowledge and sharing it with those around me.
Image Credits: All images were generated by DALL-E, an AI model developed by OpenAI
Example Prompt: In the style of Surrealist Art, draw an image of a fountain pen gliding on dotted paper
I love this post Aarti. I am a huge note taker (especially during my coaching). I know there is a school of thought that suggests it inhibits presence, but in my experience it does the opposite. It enables me to retain info even years later. I can meet a client from 5 years ago and can recall their story almost instantly. Second, it helps me digest the info in the moment - to reflect before I speak and to really understand what is happening. Of course there is a price to everything and I can’t ignore there is one to note taking as well. But for the most part, I think people feel seen and feel their stories matter. Taking notes shows your speaker you are really listening and care deeply about recalling what you heard. And that is why I keep doing it all these years later. Thanks again for sharing 🙏
I really enjoyed this post Aarti. It's given me lots of food for thought. Like you, I was told during coach training to put the pen and paper away. This seemed strange at the time. After all, we are socialised through school and work to think that taking things (classes or meetings) seriously means taking notes. I struggled to escape this mindset but found it easier to make the shift when I reflected that the most important conversations we have (with our family and friends) are always note-free. A testament to the power of being present. That said, writing a summary of the session afterwards remains a key part of my coaching process. In my current role we have started to use AI transcription technology to capture the details of interviews with candidates which has really helped to shift my focus from desperately trying to capture everything said to the candidates. Interestingly, the recent LinkedIn "Future of Recruitment Report" has captured this as one of its predictions - "Generative AI will let recruiters focus on the human part of hiring." That said, I have found that taking some notes actually helps me focus more rather than less and stops me being a "lazy" listener. Finally, two thumbs-up for dotted paper!
Yet another eye-opening write-up by you Aarti Thapar love it! I personally am an advocate for digital notes, I can just capture so much key information in a structured clean way. That being said, I do love to write with a pen & paper, this article has given me a thought to try mix it up as I can totally see the benefits you've mentioned 😄
This is great Aarti Thapar . I had recently read somewhere on the benefits of handwritten notes and your article reinforces that wonderfully. Personally I too practice note-taking and find them great for retention
Thank you Aarti - this is a critical skill. I have always found that the physical act of writing something down - not typing on a keyboard - improves my ability to remember key things. For example if I want to speak to a group without notes in hand I will always write what I want to say long hand in advance and probably never look at it again. Sadly I sometimes find it hard to read my own writing so note sharing has never been a goal :-). It's the physical writing action before that gives my brain the memory framework I need to deliver later.