Recording what happened.
WHAT NOTES ARE FOR
Recording decisions and actions, not conversation.
WHAT TO CAPTURE
Decisions made Actions agreed, with owners and dates Anything explicitly deferred Key context behind a decision
WHAT NOT TO CAPTURE
Who said what, in general The discussion in sequence Everything mentioned
WHY
Nobody reads it, and it discourages candour.
WHAT FORMAT WORKS
Decisions, then actions, then notes.
WHY THAT ORDER
It puts what matters where people look.
WHAT AN ACTION NEEDS
What Who, by name By when
WHY BY NAME
Actions assigned to a team are done by nobody.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THINGS NOT DECIDED
Record them as open, with who will decide.
WHY
Open items disappear otherwise.
WHEN TO CIRCULATE
Immediately after, while it is accurate.
WHY IMMEDIATELY
Recollection diverges within hours.
WHAT TO ASK FOR
Corrections, within a period.
WHY
It makes the record agreed rather than one person's version.
WHAT TO DO WITH FORMAL MINUTES
Follow whatever the governing rules require.
WHERE THAT APPLIES
Board and statutory meetings.
WHAT TO KEEP
The record, findable.
