## The Short Answer Good meeting notes are short and answer three questions: what did we decide, who does what, and by when. Write the goal at the top, keep a running list of decisions and action items during the call, and send the notes the same day. ## Before the Meeting Write one line at the top: **what this meeting needs to decide or produce.** If you can't write it, the meeting probably needs an agenda first. Add the date and who's coming. ## During the Meeting Don't try to write everything. Capture: - **Decisions**, in one sentence each. - **Action items**, each with an owner and a date. - **Open questions** that need an answer later. - A few words on anything surprising, like a concern a client raised. If you're typing a transcript, you're not listening. That's the moment to let a tool take the transcript for you. ## After the Meeting 1. Clean up within the hour, while you remember the context. 2. Put decisions and action items first; discussion goes below. 3. Send the notes to everyone who was there, and to anyone who owns an action item. 4. Put the follow-ups on the calendar or in your task list, not just in the notes. ## A Template to Start With ``` Meeting: [Title] · [Date] · [Attendees] Goal: [What we need to decide] Decisions: - Action items: - [ ] [Owner]: [Task], by [date] Open questions: - ``` There are five more ready-made templates (one-on-ones, client calls, stand-ups, interviews) on our [free meeting notes templates page](/meeting-notes-template). ## Let the Notes Write Themselves Mochi listens on your Mac with no bot in the call, or in person on iPhone and Apple Watch, and writes these notes for you: the decisions, who owns what, and a draft follow-up email. [Try it free for 14 days](/sign-in).