How you take minutes depends very much on the sort of meeting you're at.

If it is vital that every discussion is recorded in detail, then it's not really possible to do the recording and take an active part in the meeting as well. (As Jethro has already explained) As well as the sort of 'delicate' meeting with customers or suppliers that Jethro's talked about, this also applies to things like disciplinary meetings and so on.

Assuming that's not the case, and you're concerned with something like a team meeting where everyone is, at least nominally, on the same side, there are a couple of tricks you can use.

Actions: again agreeing with Jethro, actions are the most important thing on the minutes. They should only be accepted, not imposed (so the 'actionee' must be present), and should always have an agreed target date.

Summarising and reflecting: At the conclusion of each section of the meeting (discussion topic, agenda item, where ever seems appropriate), summarise what's been said and 'reflect' it back to the meeting. Something on the lines of:

"Now let me get this straight for the minutes: Al's proposed that we should do X, Beth's concerned that we mustn't forget Y while we're at it. Charlie doesn't really like the idea but will go along with it for the time being and Deb has agreed to produce a draft plan by our next meeting."

If anyone disagrees they'll let you know there and then. If not, you already have the basic text of the minutes.

Steve