danielpradilla Decision Meeting Notes
Use this workflow to structure meeting notes to maximize value and ensure follow-through.
Standard Meeting Notes Template
Meeting Header
Meeting: [Meeting Title]
Date: [Date]
Attendees: [Names/Roles]
Note Taker: [Name]
Duration: [Actual duration]
Agenda
- Topic 1
- Topic 2
- Topic 3
(Check off items as discussed)
Decisions Made
Clear documentation of decisions:
Decision: [What was decided]
Context: [Why this decision]
Owner: [Who's responsible for executing]
Deadline: [When if applicable]
Use this format for each decision made.
Action Items
All action items should be:
- [Action item] - @Owner - Due: [Date]
- [Action item] - @Owner - Due: [Date]
Format:
- Clear, specific action
- Single owner (no "team" ownership)
- Concrete deadline
- Checkbox for tracking
Discussion Notes
Key points discussed organized by topic:
Topic 1: [Name]
- Key point or discussion highlight
- Important context or concern raised
- Any data or information shared
Topic 2: [Name]
- Key discussion points
- Decisions or conclusions reached
Open Questions / Follow-Up
Questions that couldn't be answered:
- Question: [What we need to know]
- Owner: [Who will find out]
- By When: [Deadline]
Next Steps
Clear summary of what happens next:
- [Immediate next action]
- [Follow-up meeting if needed]
- [Any broader process to start]
Best Practices
During the meeting:
- Focus on decisions and action items over dialogue
- Capture specific commitments, not general discussion
- Note dissenting opinions on important decisions
- Ask for clarity on vague commitments ("I'll look into it" → "I'll analyze the data and share findings by Friday")
After the meeting:
- Send notes within 2 hours while fresh
- Tag action item owners (@mention them)
- Include links to relevant documents
- Follow up on overdue action items
What to capture: Decisions made Action items with owners and deadlines Key points of discussion Open questions Next steps
What to skip: Verbatim transcripts Off-topic tangents Preliminary discussion before decisions Redundant information
Meeting Types & Adaptations
1:1 Meetings
Focus on:
- Career development discussions
- Feedback (both directions)
- Current challenges
- Action items for both parties
Template additions:
- Recent Wins: What's going well
- Challenges: What's not going well
- Career Discussion: Development topics
- Feedback: For both parties
Sprint Planning
Focus on:
- Story acceptance criteria
- Sizing/estimation decisions
- Dependency identification
- Sprint commitment
Template additions:
- Sprint Goal: What we're committing to
- Story Points: Capacity and estimates
- Dependencies: External blockers
- Definition of Done: Acceptance criteria
Product Reviews
Focus on:
- Design decisions
- User feedback discussed
- Changes requested
- Launch readiness assessment
Template additions:
- Design Decisions: What was approved/rejected
- User Feedback: Key insights discussed
- Open Design Questions: What needs iteration
- Launch Criteria: Remaining requirements
Stakeholder Sync
Focus on:
- Status updates delivered
- Concerns raised
- Approvals given
- Escalation needs
Template additions:
- Status Overview: High-level progress
- Approvals Obtained: Sign-offs received
- Escalations: Issues raised to stakeholders
- Next Sync: When and what to cover