Key Characteristics of Objective Summaries
What Objective Summaries Include
- • Factual information only - what was actually discussed
- • Direct quotes or paraphrases without interpretation
- • Specific decisions made and action items assigned
- • Neutral language - no emotional or loaded words
- • Chronological order or logical organization
- • Key data and numbers mentioned in discussions
What to Avoid in Objective Summaries
- • Personal opinions - "I think John made a good point"
- • Interpretations - "Sarah seemed frustrated"
- • Emotional language - "exciting opportunity," "terrible idea"
- • Assumptions - "This probably means..."
- • Value judgments - "The best solution is..."
- • Speculation - "They might decide to..."
Objective vs Subjective Summary Examples
Objective Summary Example
Marketing Team Meeting - March 15, 2025
The team discussed Q1 campaign performance. Website traffic increased 25% compared to Q4 2024. Sarah reported the email campaign achieved a 3.2% click-through rate. The team decided to increase the social media advertising budget by $5,000 for April. John will prepare the revised budget proposal by March 22. The next meeting is scheduled for March 29 at 2 PM.
Subjective Summary Example
Marketing Team Meeting - March 15, 2025
We had an amazing meeting discussing our fantastic Q1 performance! The website traffic boost was incredible - up 25%! Sarah was clearly excited about the email campaign's success. I think the decision to increase social media spending is brilliant and will probably lead to even better results. John seemed confident about handling the budget proposal.
How to Write Objective Summaries
Step-by-Step Process
- 1. Focus on facts only - stick to what was actually said
- 2. Use neutral verbs - "discussed," "reported," "decided"
- 3. Include specific details - numbers, dates, names
- 4. Organize chronologically or by topic
- 5. Review for bias - remove opinions and interpretations
- 6. Keep it concise - focus on key information only
Useful Neutral Phrases
For Discussions:
- • "[Name] stated that..."
- • "The team discussed..."
- • "[Name] reported..."
- • "The group reviewed..."
For Decisions:
- • "The team decided to..."
- • "It was agreed that..."
- • "[Name] will..."
- • "The deadline was set for..."
AI Tools for Objective Summaries
Best AI Tools for Objective Meeting Summaries
Fireflies.ai
$10-18/userExcels at creating factual, structured summaries with clear action items and decisions. Minimal interpretation or bias in output.
View Fireflies ReviewSupernormal
$18-30/userProvides clean, professional summaries focused on key decisions and outcomes without editorializing.
View Supernormal ReviewFellow
$6-10/userStrong at organizing meeting outcomes in structured templates with objective language throughout.
View Fellow ReviewWhy AI is Good at Objective Summaries
- • No emotional bias - AI doesn't have opinions or feelings
- • Consistent language - uses neutral, factual phrasing
- • Focuses on content - doesn't interpret tone or emotions
- • Structured output - follows templates and formats consistently
- • Factual extraction - identifies key data, decisions, and actions
When to Use Objective Summaries
Perfect For:
- • Board meetings and formal business meetings
- • Legal proceedings and depositions
- • Research interviews and focus groups
- • Medical consultations and patient records
- • Project status updates and reviews
- • Performance evaluations and HR meetings
Consider Subjective When:
- • Brainstorming sessions - capturing energy and enthusiasm
- • Creative reviews - including aesthetic opinions
- • Team retrospectives - capturing feelings and moods
- • Feedback sessions - including personal reactions
- • Cultural discussions - where perspectives matter
Objective Summary Template
Standard Template Structure
Meeting: [Meeting Name/Purpose]
Date: [Date and Time]
Attendees: [List of participants]
Key Discussions:
• [Topic 1]: [What was discussed, key points raised]
• [Topic 2]: [What was discussed, key points raised]
Decisions Made:
• [Decision 1]: [What was decided and by whom]
• [Decision 2]: [What was decided and by whom]
Action Items:
• [Task]: [Assigned to] by [Deadline]
• [Task]: [Assigned to] by [Deadline]
Next Steps:
• [Next meeting date/time]
• [Other follow-up actions]