Articles · Communication
Listening and Taking Notes at the Same Time
Why simultaneous listening and transcription should not be the only way to show attention.
Shared Language editorial team
Published · 2 min read
Understanding and recording compete
Some people understand spoken information well but struggle to listen, process, select important details, and write notes at the same time. This can be mistaken for poor attention.
Offer another route
Send materials in advance, provide shared notes, allow recording where appropriate, share a summary afterward, and identify the most important points. The goal is access to the information, not one specific note-taking method.
Try this next
Before a meeting or class, identify the two or three points that must be remembered and provide them in writing.