Acting as a secretary in meetings / committees

[BeBe32]

Hi all

Just wondered if anyone here has a job that involves acting as a secretary in meetings? I have recently started a new job and it seems that I will be expected to do this at numerous committees and meetings. I have never done this before (it was on the desirable criteria for the job so they obviously didn't think it was a problem that I had never done it before). I am feeling really nervous as these meetings are very important and having never taken minutes before I worry that I will miss something or not be able to keep up with very fast moving discussions.

I'd be very grateful if anyone who has experience of this can offer any advice or tips.

Thank you

xx

BeBe I don't take minutes so can't help - but I completely understand your anxiety. I struggle with this too (had an arse of a boss which was hell too), but over time it's getting better.

It's worth being honest and saying you'd like training in this, as puppy suggested.

I'm an HE manager. Some of my admin team use something called a livescribe pen along with an iPad - it allows them to write the notes physically with the special pen, which also records the meeting and magically converts their writing to text on the iPad! They are ££ but save a lot of hours in writing up, so are worth the money if you are minuting several big meetings I think.

shouldiblowthewhistle I'm glad to hear that things are getting better for you. Anxiety is a horrible horrible thing. I keep wishing I had stayed in a job in which I felt confident and safe. I can't bear feeling like this.

To some of the other comments - I would like to suggest that the meetings be recorded but I don't know how this would go down. There are other meetings that other's will minute and none of those are recorded and everybody seems quite happy with how things are done so I'm not sure if they will think I'm a bit useless if I need to record them.

textbook that livescribe pen sounds great but I don't even have an ipad and due to budget issues at work I can't seem them going for that!

Yes but BeBe you will get better at this job. And then you will have learnt and grown and be in a stronger place than if you had stayed in a more secure place.

Thank you shouldiblowthewhistle, I really hope you're right, at the moment I just can't seem to get my head around all the things I need to know, I feel like I'm just not clever enough!

You have no idea how much I know that feeling. But you're just new. No-one can do everything at first. Give yourself a break. Before you know it, you'll be whipping everyone into line

Thank you. I really really hope you're right. I'm so worried I've made a mistake and that now things won't get any better and I'm just trapped in this situation. I would love it if things got better and I could actually get to a point where I want to stay.

Hi BeBe hope you're feeling better about things after a little longer in the job. Happy for you to PM me if that would help - I work in a similar field, have just started a new post but have around 5 years experience working with committees.

Thank you so much for all your kind replies. ash1977 that's so kind, I have PM'd you.

xx