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How To Write Effective Takeaways From A Meeting

To write effective takeaways from a meeting, summarize the key discussion points, clearly indicate action items, specify person responsible for those tasks, and deadlines for each task completion.

Jannik Lindner
Jannik Lindner
  • Last Updated: March 7, 2024

Meeting Takeaways is similar to a meeting summary. These takeaways capture the outcomes, action items, decisions made, and any other relevant information discussed during the meeting.

They serve as a reminder and reference for participants and non-participants, ensuring that the meeting’s goals and discussions are documented and can be used for future reference or to drive further actions.

In this article, we’ll show you the best way to write meeting takeaways and how to organize them so that you can still keep all team members who didn’t attend the meeting in the loop.

How To Write Effective Takeaways From A Meeting: Step-By-Step

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Step 1: Preparation for the meeting

Before any meeting, it is important to set goals, create an agenda, and gather all the necessary documents or resources. This ensures that the meeting will be productive and everyone is well-prepared. This is the basis for every efficient meeting.

We have described our meeting preparation process in detail here

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Step 2: Active participation during meeting

Ensure active engagement of all participants during the meeting by creating an inclusive environment that encourages questions, promotes discussions, and welcomes diverse inputs from everyone involved.

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Step 3: Note-taking

During the meeting, designate an individual to take notes covering the main topics addressed, set deadlines, made decisions, and assigned responsibilities to keep track of the key discussion points and follow-up actions.

Notes and transcripts are the basis for a concise summary. We use ZipDo for our meeting notes. The app automatically creates a collaborative workspace for each meeting where all members can take notes.

This is particularly helpful for recurring appointments, as you can see all past and future meetings in one timeline. This makes the preparation and follow-up of meetings much easier.

Learn how to organize your meeting notes or how to take meeting notes.

With our meeting notes app ZipDo, a collaborative editor is automatically created for each meeting, where all participants can add their points to the meeting agenda. This is the easiest way for us to collaboratively prepare for a meeting.

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Step 4: Summarize the meeting

At the conclusion of the meeting, make sure to allocate a few minutes to provide a concise recap of the most important takeaways, consensus reached, and any strategies formulated during the discussion.

Learn how to write a Meeting Summary here.

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Step 5: Ask for Clarification

During the meeting, it is important to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the points discussed. If any uncertainties arise, it is essential to ask for clarification, so that all participants leave with a common understanding.

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Step 6: Detailing Action Items

Clearly defining and assigning tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities is crucial before concluding a meeting. This ensures everyone understands their role and expectations, promoting effective collaboration and accountability.

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Step 7: Rate the effectiveness of the meeting

Please provide feedback on whether there was sufficient time for discussion and if the agenda was followed during the meeting. Your input will greatly contribute to improving future meetings.

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Step 8: Post-meeting review

It is important to review your meeting notes immediately after the meeting ends to ensure accuracy and retain important details while they are still vivid in your memory.

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Step 9: Meeting Summary Report

Prepare a comprehensive report summarizing the key points, decisions, and actionable tasks discussed during the meeting, ensuring all essential information is captured accurately for future reference and follow-up.

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Step 10: Distribute Meeting Minutes

Ensure timely distribution of meeting summary report or minutes to all participants and relevant stakeholders for effective communication and information sharing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, writing effective takeaways from a meeting is crucial for ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page and can move forward with clarity and purpose. By actively listening, summarizing key points, and focusing on action items, you can enhance the productivity and effectiveness of your meetings. Remember to keep your takeaways concise, clear, and actionable, and to share them promptly with all participants. Implementing these strategies in your meeting practices will empower you and your team to make the most out of every gathering, ultimately driving success and progress in your business.

Jannik Lindner

I'm Jannik and I write on MeetingFever about the experiences from my career as a founder and team lead.

If you have any questions, please contact me via LinkedIn.

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Popular Questions

What are meeting takeaways?

Meeting takeaways are key points, decisions, actions or tasks that have been discussed and agreed upon in a meeting. They provide a summary of the meeting’s essential elements.

Why are meeting takeaways important?

Meeting takeaways are important because they provide a clear understanding and reminders of what has been discussed during the meeting. They ensure everyone is on the same page and contributes to the effectiveness and productiveness of the meeting.

Who is responsible for documenting meeting takeaways?

The responsibility of documenting meeting takeaways typically falls on the meeting facilitator or a designated note-taker. However, all attendees should make a point of recording actions or tasks that are specific to them.

How should meeting takeaways be documented?

Meeting takeaways should be written down in a clear, concise manner, detailing who is responsible for each action and when it should be completed. They can be typed into a shared document or into an email to be sent out to all attendees after the meeting.

What happens after the meeting takeaways are documented?

After meeting takeaways are documented, they should be distributed to all meeting participants and relevant stakeholders. They can also be reviewed at the start of the following meeting to track progress and ensure accountability.

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