Notes are the project's memory: what was decided, what was ruled out, and why. They are the antidote to "I thought we agreed…" three months later.
What to write down
- Decisions, with the reason. The reason is what stops the decision being reopened every fortnight.
- Things you considered and rejected, so nobody suggests them again in month three.
- What a customer or supplier promised, and when.
- Anything you would otherwise put in an email nobody can find later.
Note or task?
| Write a note when | Create a task when |
|---|---|
| Something was decided or learned. | Somebody has to do something. |
| The team needs the context. | It has an owner and a date. |
A note that ends "so somebody needs to…" should also be a task. Notes record; tasks move.
WRITE FOR SOMEONE WHO JOINS IN WEEK SIX
They will read the notes to work out what has happened. Shorthand that made sense in the meeting will not help them.