{"id":10068,"date":"2024-05-30T17:08:43","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T13:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/?p=10068"},"modified":"2024-07-03T19:23:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T15:23:00","slug":"key-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/key-takeaways\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Takeaways: Getting to the Bottom Line of Your Meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re sitting behind your computer, waiting for a Zoom meeting to start. Just when you think you\u2019re off the hook, you hear the unmistakable ding and the meeting starts. You can see your host in the middle of your screen: it\u2019s Tom, your CEO. He clears his throat and says the thing you\u2019ve been dreading all along:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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“OK, let’s discuss the key takeaways from our last meeting.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Key takeaways? What key takeaways? Everyone looks at you. You were the one in charge of writing things down. You go through your notes, but it\u2019s all a jumbled mess of doodles and incoherent phrases. You can feel Tom staring at you through the screen. Panic sets it. Then, suddenly, you wake up.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It was all just a dream! Your meeting with Tom and the gang is in two hours, and you\u2019re all set. You\u2019ve had your <\/span>AI Meeting Assistant <\/span><\/a>running throughout your last meeting. Everything is transcribed and organized: meeting minutes, summaries, and\u2026the key takeaways. But, why are they such a big deal in meetings? Let\u2019s talk about that in this article, and discuss how you can make sure those takeaways never give you nightmares on a Monday morning!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are Key Takeaways?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Also known as \u201cthe crux of the matter\u201d and the \u201cnitty-gritty,\u201d key takeaways are short sentences that sum up the main points discussed during a call or a meeting. Without these takeaways, a meeting is like a quest without a quest. It\u2019s unproductive. If you find yourself asking \u201cWhat did we just talk about?\u201d as soon as your meeting ends, there was probably nothing to take away from it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Do We Need Key Takeaways?<\/b><\/h2>\n


\n<\/span>If you\u2019re a TV series fan, you\u2019ve probably noticed those short intros before an episode starts. \u201cPreviously, on The Walking Dead\u2026\u201d These videos recap the main sections of the previous episode, reminding you of what happened and what you can expect to happen in the new episode. That\u2019s similar to how a key takeaway works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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They Make Meetings More Productive<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Having a list of key takeaways after your meeting helps you set a clearer agenda on how to move forward based on what you discussed. Think of them as football coaches who prepare teams right before sending them off into the field. The talks might last more than 5 minutes, but by the time the game begins, everyone knows what to do and everyone is aware of each other\u2019s responsibilities. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They Help With Communication<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Not all stakeholders are always present during physical or <\/span>hybrid meeting<\/span><\/a>s. If you put together a key takeaways slide, all team members will be able to catch up on the meeting and whatever was discussed. Those who are present will also be more focused on identifying the takeaways before they are announced at the end of the meeting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They Chunk Info Into Bite-Sized Pieces\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Depending on the subject, a meeting might last hours. It\u2019s obvious that you can\u2019t remember every detail that the team discusses during those hours. But what you can do is recording the takeaways during the meeting and referring to them later. The good thing about them is that they\u2019re short and to-the-point, making them easier to read and follow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Key takeaways are useful in other areas as well: they help with the decision-making process, knowledge retention, and accountability. Plus, they can be archived as documentation and referred to whenever needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Type of Key Takeaways Are There?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Key takeaways formats come in different shapes and sizes, and the one you end up using depends on the type of meeting you\u2019re in.\u00a0 Here are some of the most common takeaways you\u2019ll come across with:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Status Updates<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Nope, not the ones on Facebook. Status updates are indicators of progress from meeting to meeting. For example, \u201cKaren has delivered the social media statistics from June to July, as requested in the previous meeting.\u201d This is a key takeaway that you should definitely include, as it references the past while reporting on what\u2019s been done.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Action Items<\/b><\/h3>\n

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By <\/span>action items<\/span><\/a>, we\u2019re talking about tasks that need to be completed or followed up on after a meeting ends. These are some of the most common takeaways you\u2019ll run into at meetings.\u00a0 Designate each task to an individual team member (or an entire team, if that works) and record them as key takeaways to maintain accountability.<\/span><\/p>\n

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S.W.O.T Analysis<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Short for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, S.W.O.T. analysis is a key takeaway that\u2019s useful for strategic meetings where you\u2019re trying to set the course straight and understand a project\u2019s ebbs and flows.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Key Takeaways Examples<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here are a couple of examples for action items, status reports, and S.W.O.T. analysis key takeaways to get your inspiration going:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Status Report Key Takeaway Examples:<\/b><\/h3>\n

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New Website Progress:<\/b><\/p>\n

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