Template
An action items template that gets things done
An action item is useful when it has one owner, a due date and a clear finish line. Use the template below at the end of every meeting, and read it back aloud before people leave.
| What you get | A summary, the decisions, action items with owners and dates, open questions and the full transcript. Action items can become tasks and be placed on Google Calendar. |
|---|---|
| Calendar | Google Calendar. |
Action items template
One line per action. If you can't fill in every column, it isn't an action item yet.
ACTION ITEMS — [Meeting name], [date] # | Action (starts with a verb) | Owner | Due | Done when 1 | [Send / Draft / Decide / Book ...] | [name] | [date] | [what finished looks like] 2 | | | | 3 | | | | Read back before the meeting ends: [ ] yes
Example, filled in (fictional)
ACTION ITEMS — Supplier review, 14 October # | Action | Owner | Due | Done when 1 | Send the shortlist to finance | Dana | 16 October | Finance confirms receipt 2 | Book calls with the top two vendors | Lee | 21 October | Both calls on the calendar 3 | Draft the evaluation criteria | Dana | 18 October | Shared with the group
What makes an action item real
- It starts with a verb: send, draft, decide, book.
- It has exactly one owner. Shared ownership means nobody owns it.
- It has a date, even an approximate one.
- It says what done looks like, so nobody argues later.
From list to calendar
Actions without time set aside tend to slip. Timo pulls action items with owners and dates from your meetings, and when you accept one it can find a free slot in your working hours on Google Calendar.
Try it on your next meeting
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Questions
What is an action item in a meeting?
A specific task someone agreed to do, with one owner and a due date.
How do I make sure action items get done?
Give each one owner and a date, read them back before the meeting ends, and put the work on a calendar.
Can AI find action items in a meeting?
Yes. Timo extracts action items with owners and dates from a recording; you review them before they become tasks.