How to Write Meeting Minutes: A Simple Guide for Everyone
Sep 3, 2025
MOM in a meeting or minutes of a meeting serve as a written record of what occurred during a meeting. They help everyone remember what was discussed, what decisions were made, and who is responsible for the next steps. Minutes are also useful for people who couldn’t attend but still need to be informed about what happened.
In this article, we’ll explain what meeting minutes are, why they are important, and share some simple tips on how to write them quickly and clearly.
What are Minutes of Meeting?
Meeting minutes are a written record of what was discussed and decided in a meeting. They include the main points, decisions made, and action items assigned to team members.
Why They Matter?
Minutes help keep everyone on the same page, remind people of their responsibilities, and give those who missed the meeting a quick way to catch up.
What to Include in Meeting Minutes?
If you are wondering how to take meeting minutes, they usually include the following points:
Date, time, and location of the meeting
List of attendees (present and absent)
Agenda topics that were discussed
Decisions made during the meeting
Action items with deadlines and responsibilities
Next meeting date (if scheduled)
Summary of discussions for each agenda item
Corrections to previous minutes (if any)
Meeting minutes should capture the most important details of every meeting. And help you go back and check the details in case you have forgotten to note something down.
Different Types of Meeting Minutes
Meeting minutes can be written in different ways, depending on how detailed they need to be and who will use them. The main types are:
Executive minutes: A summary of the key points and decisions, usually written for senior leaders.
Verbatim minutes: A word-for-word record of everything said during the meeting.
Informal minutes: A casual record of the main topics and decisions, with less structure.
Formal minutes: A detailed and structured record that follows official rules, often used for legal or compliance purposes.
Discussion minutes: Focus on the main conversations and ideas shared, without capturing every single word.
Action minutes: Highlight the tasks assigned, who is responsible, and deadlines for each action.
How to Write Minutes of a Meeting
Prepare a template: Set up a simple format with sections for date, time, attendees, agenda, decisions, and action items.
Take notes during the meeting: Write down key points, decisions made, and tasks assigned (with deadlines).
Transcribe the meeting minutes: Organize your notes into clear, easy-to-read minutes.
Distribute and share: Send the minutes to all attendees and other relevant people soon after the meeting.
File and store: Keep the minutes in a safe place (like a shared folder or system) for future reference.
How to Prepare Minutes of Meeting with an AI Note Taker
Whether you use an AI meeting note taker like AudioNotes to automatically generate minutes or prefer to type them yourself, following a few best practices can make the process of how to type up minutes of a meeting smoother and more effective.
Choose the right AI tool: Pick an AI note taker that works well with your video platforms (like Zoom or Google Meet) and has features such as transcription, summaries, and action item tracking.
Set up before the meeting: Install and test the tool, check your microphone, and have your agenda ready so the AI captures the discussion in context.
Run the meeting smoothly: Speak, avoid too much overlap in conversation, and ask for clarification if something important needs to be captured correctly.
Review and edit after: AI will do most of the work, but it’s always good to check for accuracy, refine the structure, and add any extra context the tool might have missed.
Share minutes quickly: Distribute the AI-generated minutes with your team right after the meeting to keep everyone aligned and accountable.
Store for future use: Keep the minutes in a shared location so they’re easy to find later. This ensures past decisions and action items are always accessible.
FAQs
Who Should Write the Meeting Minutes?
Usually, the meeting host or a designated person, often called the note-taker or secretary, is responsible for writing the minutes. In some teams, this role rotates so that everyone gets a turn. If you’re using an AI note taker like AudioNotes, the tool can capture and organize the minutes for you, making the job much easier.
Why Are They Called Minutes of a Meeting?
The word “minutes” doesn’t mean time here; it comes from the word “minute” (pronounced my-NEWT), which means small or brief. Meeting minutes are basically a short, written record of the important things that happened in a meeting.
What Is the Purpose of Meeting Minutes?
The main purpose of meeting minutes is to keep track of what was discussed, the decisions made, and who is responsible for what. They act like a roadmap so no one forgets the next steps, and they also help people who couldn’t attend catch up quickly.
When Should Meeting Minutes be Distributed?
Minutes should be shared as soon as possible after the meeting, ideally within 24 to 48 hours. This way, everything is still fresh in people’s minds, and team members can start working on their action items right away.