Meetings without a note-taker are a shared illusion. This template captures the agenda, key decisions, action items, and follow-ups from every meeting in a format you can act on immediately after.
What’s Inside
- Meeting header: date, meeting name, attendees, facilitator, and objective
- Agenda and discussion notes with time allocation per item
- Decisions made section with owner and date
- Action items table: task, owner, and due date
Print tip: Works on standard letter (8.5×11″) or A4 paper. Print at 100% scale with no page scaling. Designed to be printed and filled in by hand.
How to Use This Template
- Print the template before every meeting and fill in the header fields in advance. Arriving with a prepared note sheet keeps you in note-taking mode rather than conversation mode.
- Write down every decision with the owner’s name and a date next to it. Decisions without an owner are not decisions; they are suggestions.
- Capture action items in real time, not after the meeting from memory. The last 5 minutes of any meeting are the most important for capturing commitments before everyone disperses.
- Send a typed copy of the action items to all attendees within an hour of the meeting. This single habit reduces follow-up emails significantly and creates accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I write notes verbatim or summarise?
Summarise. Verbatim notes cause you to miss the next point while transcribing the last one. Write the key idea, decision, or action item, not the full sentence that produced it.
What should I do with meeting notes after the meeting?
Type up action items immediately and send them to attendees. File the notes by meeting date. Review them before the next meeting with the same group.
How do I handle a fast-moving meeting where I miss things?
Focus on action items and decisions above all else. Discussion notes are nice to have; action items are the only part of the meeting that produces results.
Is this template free?
Yes, completely free. No email required. Print as many copies as you need.