Why check-ins are very important

In this article we explain why check-ins are very important and why they should be part of your team and organization’s meeting culture.

How are you? You’ve probably asked or been asked this question multiple times just this week. In casual conversation, it can be anything from a serious inquiry to a throwaway greeting.

On hybrid or work-from-anywhere teams, however, this simple question can become a whole lot more meaningful. Asking how a colleague is feeling (and actually wanting to know the answer) is key to fostering camaraderie, building psychological safety on your team, and connection across continents and Zoom screens.

However, its importance goes even further than that.

This question is the basis for the formal “check-in” — a simple activity that should appear at the top of every meeting agenda. Knowing where every member of your team stands on an emotional level before diving into the work provides clarity and increases transparency, builds trust, and increases empathy.

In short, including a check-in at the top of your agenda isn’t just about checking off a box; it’s about building real connection.

What’s a check-in, exactly?

A check-in is the specific act of establishing each participant’s emotional state at a given point during a meeting. Typically, this involves going around the room (virtual or otherwise) and asking everyone how they’re doing.

Check-ins are effective tools for understanding your participants’ needs in real-team, emphasizing on building a strong emotional connection with remote team members by gaining their trust and getting to know your team.

Facilitators have many activities that boost participation and help build camaraderie, from icebreakers to warm-ups. The word “check-in” could be used synonymously with any of these brief exercises.

• Check-ins
  A brief activity to establish the mood of each team member, that is, their current emotional state, at a given moment during a meeting. It can be a simple question like, “How are you now?”
• Warm-ups
  Warm-ups are short exercises done at the beginning of a meeting, for example, to introduce new team members, overcome awkwardness, and help colleagues get to know each other.
• Energizing
  Energizers are fun activities that help recharge your team and may involve some type of physical activity.

(Reference: https://www.mural.co/blog/visual-team-check-ins)