Most of the work has already been done by the time the meeting is over. But there are some crucial things left to do that can reinforce what you achieved or quickly help undo it.

Distribute the Notes

You had at least one person taking detailed notes of the meeting and recording action items. But the notes do no good if they sit on a computer and nothing happens with them. You need to distribute them — within twenty-four hours, if possible. The more time that passes between the meeting and distribution of notes, the less relevant they will seem. If you had more than one person taking notes, make sure they have a chance to compare them and create a document with all the points each of them noted. Also consider creating a separate sheet of action items, so every attendee can, at a glance, see what they are supposed to do and by when.

Follow-Up

For people to ignore what they agreed to do in a meeting is to retroactively waste the time of everyone who attended. Nevertheless, even if you include a list of action items, the meeting leader might well check on progress. Otherwise, you have a list of commitments with no one looking to see if they were actually done, which, again, retroactively scuttles part or all of the meeting. The meeting leader might also consider creating a follow-up document — a spreadsheet or other schedule of what was promised, what happened, and what is still outstanding, attaching the names of the innocent and guilty alike.

Get Feedback

If you want to learn to produce better meetings, you need to hear how they went. Actively go to the participants of a meeting and get their impressions. What worked? What didn't? Talk out the issues with the people so they don't fear that you might perceive their critiques as attacks. The more you can learn, the more you can improve future meetings.