Meeting Action Items Template
Copy-to-clipboard action item trackers for simple lists, detailed deadlines, and cross-meeting commitments. Or let Claryti track action items automatically.
Simple Action Items
ACTION ITEMS — [Meeting Name] — [Date] OWNER: [Name 1] - [ ] [Task description] — Due: [Date] - [ ] [Task description] — Due: [Date] OWNER: [Name 2] - [ ] [Task description] — Due: [Date] OWNER: [Name 3] - [ ] [Task description] — Due: [Date] - [ ] [Task description] — Due: [Date] CARRIED OVER FROM LAST MEETING - [ ] [Task] — Owner: [Name] — Original due: [Date] — New due: [Date] COMPLETED SINCE LAST MEETING - [x] [Task] — Owner: [Name] — Done [Date]
Detailed with Deadlines
ACTION ITEMS TRACKER — [Project / Team] Last updated: [Date] # | Action Item | Owner | Due Date | Priority | Status | Source Meeting ---|----------------------|----------|----------|----------|-------------|--------------- 1 | [Task description] | [Name] | [Date] | High | In progress | [Meeting, Date] 2 | [Task description] | [Name] | [Date] | High | Not started | [Meeting, Date] 3 | [Task description] | [Name] | [Date] | Medium | In progress | [Meeting, Date] 4 | [Task description] | [Name] | [Date] | Medium | Not started | [Meeting, Date] 5 | [Task description] | [Name] | [Date] | Low | Not started | [Meeting, Date] OVERDUE - #[ID] [Task] — Owner: [Name] — Was due: [Date] — Blocker: [Reason] NOTES - [Context on dependencies between items] - [Escalation needed for blocked items]
Cross-Meeting Tracker
CROSS-MEETING ACTION ITEMS — Week of [Date] COMMITMENTS I MADE Meeting: [Name, Date] - [ ] [What I promised] — To: [Person/Team] — Due: [Date] Meeting: [Name, Date] - [ ] [What I promised] — To: [Person/Team] — Due: [Date] COMMITMENTS OTHERS MADE TO ME Meeting: [Name, Date] - [ ] [What they promised] — From: [Name] — Due: [Date] Meeting: [Name, Date] - [ ] [What they promised] — From: [Name] — Due: [Date] SLACK / EMAIL COMMITMENTS - [ ] [Promise from Slack thread] — From: [Name] — Due: [Date] - [ ] [Promise from email chain] — From: [Name] — Due: [Date] FOLLOW-UP NEEDED (no response yet) - [Item] — Sent to: [Name] — Sent on: [Date] — Follow up by: [Date] WEEKLY SUMMARY Total open items: [#] | Overdue: [#] | Completed this week: [#]
Or let Claryti track action items automatically
Claryti reads your meetings, email, Slack, and calendar, then delivers a daily brief at 8 AM with every commitment tracked bi-directionally. No spreadsheets, no manual entry, no dropped balls.
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Action Items FAQ
What is the difference between action items and tasks?
Action items are commitments made to other people, usually during meetings or conversations. Tasks are work you assign yourself. The key difference is accountability: action items carry an implicit promise to someone else, which makes tracking them more critical.
How do I make sure action items actually get done?
Three practices drive completion: assign a single owner (not a group), set a specific deadline (not "soon"), and review status at the next meeting. Claryti automates this by tracking commitments across email, Slack, and meetings bi-directionally.
How many action items should come out of a meeting?
Aim for 3 to 7 action items per meeting. Fewer suggests the meeting may not have been necessary. More than 7 suggests the meeting tried to cover too much. Each item should be completable within one to two weeks.
Should I track action items from email and Slack too?
Yes. Research shows that over 60% of commitments happen outside of meetings, in email threads and Slack conversations. Tracking only meeting action items misses the majority of promises your team makes.
What is the best tool for tracking action items?
The best tool is one the whole team uses consistently. Spreadsheets and docs work for small teams. For cross-channel tracking, Claryti automatically surfaces commitments from meetings, email, and Slack in your daily 8 AM brief without any manual entry.