Speech to Text for Meetings

Capturing resolutions and creating reports are a large part of the life of a PM. Communication management is risk management. Transcription of all manner of spoken language is a potentially large burden on the PM and their administrative staff. Using speech-to-text tools can be an effective way for project managers to save time in various tasks that involve writing and documentation. Here are some ways project managers can use speech-to-text tools to save time:

1. Faster note-taking: During meetings or discussions, project managers can use speech-to-text tools to quickly transcribe spoken notes, saving time. This can help ensure that all important information is captured accurately.

2. Streamlined documentation: When it comes to creating project reports, memos, or other documentation, project managers can use speech-to-text tools to dictate their thoughts and ideas, reducing the time and effort required for manual typing.

3. Improved communication: Project managers can use speech-to-text tools to record and transcribe their messages, emails, or texts, and then edit them as needed. This can help ensure that messages are clear, concise, and free of errors, saving time that would be spent on rewrites.

4. Enhanced accessibility: For project managers with disabilities or injuries that affect typing or writing, speech-to-text tools can provide a more accessible means of communication and documentation.

5. Increased productivity: By saving time on tasks such as note-taking, documentation, and communication, project managers can free up more time to focus on high-priority tasks, leading to increased productivity and better project outcomes.

6. Lessened risk management time: By accurately capturing decisions and outcomes, project risks are greatly reduced and errors of assumption and misunderstanding are mitigated.

Overall, speech-to-text tools can be a valuable time-saving tool for project managers, allowing them to focus on more important tasks and improve overall efficiency.

Having free and reliable AI tools potentially cuts this burden down, if you use them correctly. 

So which ones are best for you?

There are several speech-to-text tools available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the best speech-to-text tools available:

1. Google Docs Voice Typing: Google Docs has a built-in speech-to-text tool that allows users to dictate their text directly into a Google Doc. It supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and German, and has a high accuracy rate.

2. Dragon Professional Individual: This is a powerful, paid, speech-to-text software designed for professionals. It has high accuracy rates and can be customized to recognize specific words and phrases. It also includes voice commands to control your computer and perform other tasks.

3. Otter.ai: Otter.ai is a cloud-based speech-to-text tool that provides real-time transcription and note-taking features. It also offers collaboration features, allowing multiple users to access and edit notes. There is a free plan as well as paid options.

4. Microsoft Dictate: Microsoft Dictate is a free add-in for Microsoft Office that allows users to dictate their text directly into Word, Outlook, or PowerPoint. It supports over 20 languages and can be customized to recognize specific terminology.

5. Speechnotes: Speechnotes is a free online (Chrome extension) speech-to-text tool that provides real-time transcription and punctuation features. It also allows users to save their notes to their computer or cloud storage service.

6. Whisper is a speech-to-text tool developed by Google that aims to improve transcription accuracy in noisy environments. Whisper represents a significant advancement in speech-to-text technology, with the potential to improve accuracy and accessibility in a variety of settings. The code is open source and free but very powerful. Some coding skills are necessary to create the correct environments for the software to run.

When choosing a speech-to-text tool, it's important to consider factors such as accuracy, language support, customization options, and compatibility with your computer or device. Free and paid versions are mostly available and whether you choose to upgrade will depend on your needs. All the tools use AI and machine learning to improve accuracy. Output should always be reviewed by the PM and their staff, just as you would perform any other due diligence. However the potential benefits are clear when implemented properly. Happy transcribing!