Keep Decisions, Proposals, and Open Questions Separate

A meeting summary can sound clearer than the meeting actually was if it turns every idea into a decision.

Try sorting notes into three labels:

• Decided: what the group agreed to do, and who owns the next step.
• Proposed: an idea someone raised, but the group has not approved.
• Open: a question or uncertainty that still needs an answer.

For example, “We’ll test the new format” means something different from “Maya proposed testing it.” That small wording difference helps readers act without mistaking discussion for commitment.

Before sharing the summary, check the decision and owner with the people involved. A useful record should make the next step clear—and leave unresolved points honestly unresolved.