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NOTION
You just had a productive meeting. Good conversation. Clear alignment. Everyone seemed on the same page.
Then... nothing happens.
Priorities shift. Decisions get forgotten. Stakeholders remember the conversation differently. And suddenly you're stuck re-explaining things you thought were already settled.
Here's the truth: The designers who influence aren't the ones with perfect presentations. They're the ones who follow through every single time.
The difference between being seen as "just a designer" and being seen as a strategic partner isn't what happens in the meeting—it's what you do immediately after.
Why Follow-Up Matters More Than You Think
Most designers think the work is done when the meeting ends. But here's what actually happens when you don't follow up:
Stakeholders forget what was agreed on (or remember it differently)
Decisions don't get made because no one documented what needs deciding
Timelines slip because responsibilities weren't clear
You get blamed when things fall apart because there's no record of what was discussed
Trust erodes because stakeholders don't see you as someone who drives things forward
What You Get
The Follow-Up Framework gives you ready-to-use frameworks for every type of stakeholder conversation—so you can build trust and momentum without overthinking it.
General Meeting Follow-Up Template
For project syncs, planning conversations, and everyday stakeholder meetings
Design Crit Follow-Up Template
For design reviews—shows you're thoughtful, action-oriented, and incorporating feedback strategically
Executive Stakeholder Follow-Up Template
For high-stakes conversations—speaks their language (outcomes and metrics, not design details)
Cross-Functional Stakeholder Follow-Up Template
For PM/Eng/Design alignment meetings—keeps everyone on the same page and prevents miscommunication
Why This Works
These aren't generic "thanks for meeting" emails. Each template is designed to:
Show you were listening – You're confirming understanding, not just summarizing
Create clarity – Everyone knows what's happening next and who's responsible
Surface gaps before they become problems – Open questions and dependencies are documented
Speak the stakeholder's language – Executives get outcomes and metrics. PMs get scope and timelines. Engineers get context.
Build trust through consistency – You become known as someone who follows through
The goal isn't perfection. It's consistency.
The Difference Between Being Heard and Being Ignored
Six months from now, you'll either be:
The designer stakeholders trust because you always follow through, create clarity, and drive things forward
or
The designer stakeholders forget about because meetings end and momentum dies
The gap between those two outcomes isn't talent. It's consistency.
And consistency starts with having a system you can rely on.
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