What to write down after a difficult meeting at work

A two-minute debrief can preserve the details that are hardest to reconstruct later.

Capture five things

Record the date, who attended, the key factual points, what was agreed and what remains unanswered.

Separate wording from interpretation

If a phrase matters, record it as accurately as you can. Put your interpretation separately so the two do not become blurred over time.

Turn promises into commitments

If someone said they would confirm something by Friday, record the owner and date. That creates a useful follow-up rather than a vague memory.

Decide whether a written follow-up is useful

A concise confirmation can help where expectations, actions or dates matter. Keep it factual and focused on what needs to happen next.