Meeting notes template builder

Open a blank page at the start of a call and you lose the first five minutes to deciding what to write. Pick a meeting type below, adjust the sections, copy the template into your notes app and fill in the blanks while people talk.

How to use it

1. Pick the meeting type. It switches on the sections that usually matter for that kind of call.
2. Tick or untick sections. Fewer is better. A five-minute check-in needs actions and not much else.
3. Copy the template as plain text or Markdown, paste it into your notes and fill the ___ blanks as you go.

What each section is for

• Goal: one line you can read at the start so everybody knows what a good ending looks like.
• Topic blocks: one per agenda item, with what was said and what was decided. If you only fill one line, fill the decision.
• Decisions and actions: the part people actually come back for. Every action gets an owner and a due date, otherwise it is a wish.
• Requests and promises: for client calls, what they asked for and what you said you would do, kept apart so nothing slips.
• Risks and open questions: things that changed, and things nobody could answer yet, with a name next to who finds out.
• Follow-up: who gets the notes and when the next meeting is.

Short honest context

A template does not make a meeting good, and long templates tend to get ignored. Start with the shortest version that works and add a section only when you keep wishing you had it. Send the notes the same day, while people still remember the call. If you are choosing what to write during the call, the meeting notes guide covers what to capture, what to skip and a 30-minute follow-up routine.

When the call ends, the notes are only half the job: a few stray follow-ups usually live outside any template. Dump those with the brain dump timer or read how to take notes on your phone for a quick-capture habit. Taking notes in lectures instead? See how to take notes in class.

Questions people ask

What should a meeting notes template include? Meeting name, date and people, a goal, decisions, and actions with owner and due date. Add open questions and the next meeting.

Which meeting types does the builder cover? Project review, one-to-one, stand-up, client call and brainstorm. Tick or untick any section afterwards.

Can I paste the template into my notes app? Yes. Copy plain text for any app, or Markdown for apps that render headings and checkboxes.

Is anything I type here saved or sent? No. Only your meeting type, sections and format are remembered on this device. The title, date and people are not saved.