Record decisions, not discussion
Most meeting notes describe what was discussed. A decision log records what changed: the decision, the owner, the date, and the condition that would reopen it. That record is what turns a meeting into an operating system.
Use a four-column template
Prepare a template with four columns: decision, owner, due date, and evidence or next step. Add a column for the open question when the group did not decide. Leave the template visible during the meeting so the assistant can capture in real time.
Separate preference from authority
Distinguish a decision from a preference. "We prefer vendor A" is not a decision unless someone with authority selected it. Record who approved the choice and what happens next.
Confirm the log within a day
Send the log within one business day. Ask the chair to confirm or correct it, then store the confirmed version with the meeting record. Unconfirmed notes are drafts, not minutes.
Open the next meeting with the log
Review open decisions at the start of the next meeting. The review takes two minutes and prevents the same topic from being re-debated because nobody checked the record.
Frequently asked questions
Who confirms the decision log?
The meeting chair or the executive who owns the decision. The assistant prepares it and routes it for confirmation.
What if the group leaves without deciding?
Record the open question, the options discussed, the person who will decide, and the date the decision is expected.
Ready to define the role?
Use a recent leadership week to scope the support that would make the biggest difference. The consultation is a working conversation, not a generic pitch.
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