The written record.
WHAT MINUTES ARE FOR
Recording what was decided and who will do what.
WHAT THEY ARE NOT
A transcript of discussion.
WHAT TO RECORD
Who attended Decisions made Actions, with owners and dates Matters deferred, and to when
WHAT NOT TO RECORD
Who said what, in most contexts Discussion that led nowhere Anything better left unwritten
WHY THAT LAST POINT
Minutes are a record that may be read later by people who were not present.
WHAT TO WRITE THEM IN
Plain, neutral language.
WHEN TO CIRCULATE
Promptly, while memories are fresh enough to correct errors.
WHAT TO ASK FOR
Corrections, within a defined period.
WHAT TO DO AT THE NEXT MEETING
Review the actions from the last.
WHY
It is what makes actions actually happen.
WHAT TO KEEP
The record, organised and findable.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT SENSITIVE MATTERS
Record the decision without unnecessary detail, and consider who will see it.
