Summarizing What Just Happened

One meeting, three summaries

The meeting just ended. You have your notes, maybe an AI transcript (if you got consent), and 30 minutes before your next call. Different people need different things — and forwarding the same summary to all of them is the fastest way to be ignored.

The three summary modes:

Three modes for three audiences

Mode 1: Executive (3 bullets, what changed)

For your boss, VP, or anyone above your level. They need what changed, what got decided, what they need to do (usually nothing).

Summarize this meeting in 3 bullets for my VP. Focus on what changed, what was decided, and what action (if any) is needed from her. Skip context she already knows.

Mode 2: Team (decisions and owners)

For your direct team or anyone doing the work. They need clarity, not narrative. A table works better than prose.

Summarize this meeting for the project team as a table: column 1 = decision or action, column 2 = owner, column 3 = deadline. Add a short context row at the top. No paragraphs.

Mode 3: Record (searchable detail)

For your future self, or the project archive. The only mode where length is OK — you want to be able to search this in 3 months.

Produce a record summary of this meeting: full list of topics, all decisions with rationale, open questions, what each attendee committed to. Use clear headers I can search later.