MOVE 67 · ACCOUNTABILITY & DOCUMENTATION · FREE
Recap in Writing
Send a short written summary of decisions, owners and dates after every important conversation, creating a shared record both sides can rely on.
What is written down survives; what is only said is renegotiated.
WHY IT WORKS
Memory is selective and changes over time. A prompt written recap fixes the agreement, gives the other side a chance to correct it, and becomes a neutral reference later. It also signals professionalism without implying distrust.
WHEN TO USE IT
- After any meeting where decisions or commitments were made.
- When agreements with this counterpart have been disputed before.
WHEN NOT TO USE IT
- The conversation was purely social or exploratory.
- A written record would breach confidentiality requirements.
SIGNALS IT FITS
- People remember meetings differently.
- Follow-up actions are frequently forgotten.
PREPARATION
- Take brief notes during the meeting on decisions, owners and dates.
- Use a consistent recap format.
STEP BY STEP
- Send within 24 hours.
- List decisions, actions with owners, and dates.
- Invite corrections by a specific time.
- File it where both sides can find it.
OPENING LINE
“Thanks for today — here's a quick recap of what we agreed.”
SCRIPT
Recap: we agreed to launch on 2 May. You'll provide final copy by 18 April; I'll deliver the staging site by 25 April. Let me know by Friday if anything's off.
LIKELY RESPONSES & COUNTERS
- If they correct the recap
- Thank them, update it, and resend the corrected version.
- If they don't respond
- Treat the recap as the record, as stated, and refer to it later.
SECOND MOVE
If an item in the recap is missed, use Reference the Agreement, Not the Feeling.
FOLLOW-UP
Keep recaps in one shared thread or folder.
COMMON MISTAKES
- Writing long narrative minutes nobody reads.
- Recapping only your interpretation without inviting corrections.
WALK-AWAY CONDITIONS
- The other side consistently disputes written recaps after the fact without having corrected them.
EXAMPLE (FICTIONAL)
A product manager began sending three-line recaps after every client call. When the client later claimed a feature was promised, the recap showed it was deferred; the conversation took two minutes.
ETHICAL BOUNDARY
Recap accurately. Writing a recap that shifts terms in your favour damages trust and may be disputed.
RELATED MOVES
Content version 1 · Drafted by Power Move IQ Editorial · Not yet human-reviewed · Educational decision support, not legal, financial or employment advice.