This may come as a surprise to you, but in order to be a People First leader, you need to actually care about your people. Now, I’m being playful here, but sometimes there is so much happening day to day with the business that we lose sight of the basics. So how do we consistently prioritize our team and demonstrate our commitment to them? Check-in rounds are an excellent way to prioritize and create a rhythm of communication with your team.
People First Check-In Rounds
Check-in rounds are informal monthly sessions that take about fifteen minutes. Frequency and consistency are key to their success- both in timing and in the questions asked. The intention of rounding is to briefly touch base with team members and hear what’s happening for them. Believe it or not, these check-ins can be both quick and effective when done right.
Quick And Effective Check-Ins
In order for your check-ins to be productive, you need a bit of a plan. This will help you get the most out of your interaction, and over time your team will know what to expect too.
Fifteen-minute check-in rounds typically cover the following:
- What’s going well?
- Who deserves recognition for the work they are doing? (Be sure to individually thank that person for their work. Let them know which team member recognized them.)
- Are there any tools or supplies needed to be more successful?
- What can I do to support you?
It helps people to know the questions in advance, especially for those who like to prepare and think through their answers. Over time, new questions may be needed, so be sure to keep people up to date. For example, you may add a question to assess a new initiative.
To make the short rounds impactful, document people’s responses, follow up with people who deserve recognition, address issues that have been identified, and provide the necessary tools. You’ll even be able to close the feedback loop by reporting on trends and action plans at a future meeting.
Keep the consistency and prioritization of these check-ins and see how it impacts your team!
