A better way to take meeting notes
Most meeting notes are a transcript nobody reads. A simple three-part format makes them useful.
Typing everything said in a meeting feels productive. It is not. A transcript is long, and nobody reads it later, including you.
Good meeting notes are short and answer three questions.
1. What was decided#
Write the decisions in plain sentences. "We will launch on the 14th." "The budget stays the same." If nothing was decided, write that, because it is also useful to know.
Decisions are the most valuable part of any meeting. If someone asks later why something was done, this is where they will look.
2. Who does what#
List the actions, each with a name and a date. "Priya to send the draft by Friday."
An action without a name belongs to nobody, and an action without a date rarely happens. Say both aloud before the meeting ends so everyone hears it.
3. What is still open#
Write down the questions nobody could answer, and who will find out. This keeps loose ends from disappearing.
Before and after#
- Before. Write the purpose of the meeting at the top of the page. It helps you listen for what matters.
- During. Leave space between points. Do not try to catch every word. Mark the decisions and actions as they happen.
- After. Spend five minutes tidying the notes the same day, while you still remember. Send them to the others if it helps.
Why this works#
Your job in a meeting is to think, not to record. When you write less, you listen more. The notes then capture your understanding, not a pile of quotes.
If you need an exact record, use a recording with permission. For everything else, three short lists beat three pages of text.