The majority of consultants make notes that are not necessarily useful later. You have these pieces of bullet points and half-completed thoughts after a full day of meetings. By the time you have to do something about them, the context has disappeared.
A Cornell notes template is where a real difference can be made. It makes your notes organized and clear, which helps you identify the important things and translate them into decisions. Originally aimed at students, it is now an effective weapon in favor of professionals operating in high-stress, high-stakes settings.
What are Cornell notes?
Cornell notes can be described as a structured system for taking notes that enhances the process of capturing, organizing, and reviewing information. The format was first created at Cornell University, and it breaks down the page into distinct areas that perform a particular cognitive task during and after a meeting.
With consultants working with busy-paced conversations or discussing many points at once, this style gives a functional framework, which facilitates a narrowed thought process, instant labels on important details, and expedited synthesis later.
When to use Cornell notes in the workplace?
Cornell Notes format is ideal for meetings with lots of information to absorb and where clear results are required. In a consulting setting, it helps you organize and systematically document useful information instead of just making up a note-taking system as you go.
The following are some of the important scenarios in which a Cornell notes template would be of actual value.
Client discovery calls
These meetings reveal important details about client needs, expectations, and constraints. Use the main notes area to capture everything the client shares, and the cue column to tag pain points, strategic goals, or unanswered questions.
Project kickoff meetings
When timelines, deliverables, and responsibilities are being assigned, it's easy to miss something. The cue column lets you isolate key decisions, assigned tasks, or potential risks as the meeting happens. The summary provides a quick snapshot of the following steps to confirm with stakeholders.
Internal strategy sessions
These discussions often involve conflicting priorities or competing ideas. Cornell notes help separate the noise. Use the cue column to highlight alignment issues or action items. Afterward, the summary allows you to write a clear synthesis for sharing with the broader team.
Workshops and stakeholder interviews
These sessions move quickly and are often hard to summarize later. The Cornell format lets you stay organized while keeping up with fast-paced input. Capture raw notes freely, then return to tag insights, user feedback, or recurring concerns in the cue column.
Structure your Cornell notes using ready-to-use templates
Once you understand the format, the next step is making it work for the type of meetings you actually have. That's where templates help. You don't need to reinvent the layout every time; instead, you can pick one that fits the session. Below are three practical Cornell notes templates you can start using right away.
Template 1: For weekly client meetings
If you're meeting with the same client regularly, you need a note structure that helps you track updates, catch changes, and follow through. This format is specifically designed for that purpose.
Start by writing the project name, client, and meeting date at the top. In the notes column, take down what's said as it's said, updates, blockers, action points, and decisions. Don't worry about labeling anything yet. Just capture the flow of the conversation.
Then, after the call, go back and use the cue column to tag what matters: things like “needs approval,” “escalation,” or “waiting on client.” Finally, write 2–3 sentences in the summary section. Cover what got resolved, what's still open, and what you need to do next.
Template 2: For fast-paced calls or syncs
Some meetings move too fast for detailed formatting. If you're on a discovery call, internal sync, or sprint review, you don't have time to slow down. This template is stripped back to just the essentials.
Start with the topic and date at the top; that's enough context for later. During the call, use the right-hand notes section to write quickly. Bullet points, shorthand, and keywords are fine here.
Once the meeting ends, pause for five minutes. Go to the cue column and jot down tags that help you remember what matters, for example, “follow up,” “pain point,” or “budget issue.” Then write one short paragraph in the summary that explains what the call was really about.
Template 3: For interviews or workshops
Workshops and stakeholder interviews need more structure upfront. You're not just taking notes, you're capturing insights that will shape a project. This template helps guide that process without making things feel rigid.
Start by filling out the objective, date, and stakeholder name at the top. This frames the session before it even begins. In the notes section, you can divide the space by topic or speaker, whichever makes more sense. Capture quotes, ideas, and responses as fully as possible.
As you progress, use the cue column to identify recurring themes, emotional responses, or major concerns. These aren't just keywords; they're the building blocks for your synthesis. At the end, move to the summary and write out the key takeaways.
Try to answer questions like: What did they care most about? What problems are they facing? What should happen next? This format helps you move from raw feedback to usable insight without needing to reprocess everything later.
If you're using Plaud Note, there's no need to choose between typing, writing, or recording; it handles all of it. You can speak your notes out loud or snap a photo of a handwritten page, and the app automatically turns it into a structured Cornell format.
How to craft a Cornell notes template that fits your workflow
Once you have discovered a structure that works, the next step is to make it work. And that is creating a process that aligns with how you think, work, and receive information, be it that you like to write down things, make things verbal, or put everything in digital order.
Luckily, you do not need to figure it out. Most of this can be automated with the right tools, particularly if you are using Plaud Note.
Step 1: Record your voice note
Begin the meeting by recording it with your Plaud Note or Plaud NotePin. A simple press-and-hold button will capture all client comments and technical discussions as well. The gadget can be easily clipped to your phone or kept in your pocket because it is small and will not disrupt the flow of the sessions.
Plaud can take multimodal input, that is, it can record internal and external audio. This can help when you are switching between your speakerphone, face-to-face conversations, or hybrid calls.
Step 2: Transcribe with Plaud Intelligence
When the session is over, your recording will be matched with the Plaud App. It utilizes Plaud Intelligence to translate audio into text, enabling accurate and quick transcription.
It recognizes lots of languages, labels on speakers, and even adjusts itself to industry-specific jargon, which means you do not need to clean it afterwards. You will have a complete written record of the meeting, which can be sorted and tagged.
Step 3: Choose the Cornell notes template
Now that you have the transcript, it's time to organize it. Plaud App doesn’t currently offer built-in Cornell notes templates. However, you can still structure your notes in this format by doing one of the following:
- Customize with Prompts: Use AI prompts to create your own Cornell-style layout. For example, you can instruct the app to format your transcription into notes, cues, and a summary.
- Use Photo-to-Template: If you prefer handwritten notes, snap a photo of your Cornell notes, and the app will convert them into a digital format while keeping the original structure.
You can also select from custom templates or use one of the 3,000+ summary templates available within the app.
Step 4: Refine and optimize
Now you can fine-tune your notes after you have them organized into the Cornell format. Label specific lines, update the resume, or associate specific phrases with actions to follow up. You are then able to export the notes, distribute them to your team, or keep them in sync on your devices.
When you have Plaud Pro Plan, you can also access autopilot generation, which provides action items or client insights based on your cue column.
Convert handwritten notes to digital Cornell notes
Not everyone likes to type or talk through their notes. If you're the kind of person who still prefers handwritten pages during meetings, there's an option for that, too. Inside the Plaud App, the Photo to Template feature lets you scan your handwritten Cornell notes and digitize them instantly.
Just take a photo of the page, and the app recognizes the cue column, notes section, and summary area, preserving the structure while converting it into editable digital text. You can then tag, summarize, and export it just like you would with any typed entry.
How to use Cornell notes templates
Having a template is one thing; using it properly is where the value kicks in. Here's how to make the most of each section in a way that actually supports your work.
1. Capture notes without overthinking
During the meeting, focus on getting everything down in the notes section. Don't worry about structure yet. Write in bullets, short phrases, or shorthand, whatever helps you keep up with the flow. If you're using the Plaud device, you can record the meeting and come back to the transcript later.
2. Add cues to label what matters
After the meeting, go back and use the cue column to tag key parts of the discussion. Highlight follow-ups, decisions, risks, or anything that needs attention. These short prompts make your notes searchable and actionable.
3. Summarize the key outcome
At the bottom, write a summary of what was agreed, what's still open, and what needs to happen next. This keeps your notes focused and helps you prep for the next call without digging through everything.
Conclusion
The Cornell notes template method is not complicated, yet the effect it has on your work process is enormous. Rather than maintaining a collection of notes, you can operate under a format that aids in keeping track and concentration, and making all the materials organized.
To save time and lessen confusion, this structure is helpful for consultants dealing with several projects and meetings. It is even easier when the process is automated by such tools as Plaud Note that does all the work with transcription, tagging, and formatting.
FAQs
How do you do Cornell notes?
Start by dividing your page into three sections: a wide right-hand column for notes, a narrow left-hand column for cues or keywords, and a summary box at the bottom.
What is the Cornell note-taking method?
The core rule is to separate detailed information (notes) from key ideas (cues) and reflections (summary). This structure helps with review, focus, and retention, especially in fast-moving work environments.
Can ChatGPT make Cornell notes?
Yes. If you provide the content of your meeting, ChatGPT can help you structure it into Cornell format. You can also use tools like Plaud Intelligence to automate this process based on audio recordings or handwritten scans.
What is the main idea of Cornell notes?
To turn raw information into something organized, helpful, and easy to review. Instead of just writing things down, you're creating a system for follow-through.
