hether it is a quick huddle or something more formal, meeting together helps to ensure everyone is doing okay and has what they need.
Your frequent meetings—staff meeting or morning huddle—probably focus on the latest information, or what we know right now. A check-in adds something more.
A check-in is an intentional practice or quick question that teams use at the beginning of a meeting to bring purpose and connection. They support something we know from research: we tend to remember the first and last things we hear. In fact, the check-in process may be the most important part of any meeting.
Try asking your colleagues one (or a few) of the following questions to kickoff your next meeting.
Remember, you have support.
If someone really struggles to respond to the prompt, they may need an individual check-in from someone on the team, or a referral to a trained expert. The Resiliency Center and colleagues provide a wealth of support services.
Click here for U of U Health's COVID-19 well-being resources.
Check-in prompts
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What is a high and a low from the day?
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What is one word that describes how you are feeling today?
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Share one thing personal or professional that is going on in your life.
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What are three good things that happened (yesterday, during your shift, etc.)?
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Share a moment of awe (from yesterday, during your shift, etc.). A moment of awe is when you experience that feeling like you’re a part of something bigger (e.g., looking at the stars, being part of a care team, your favorite team winning right at the buzzer, teaching something to a child, etc.)
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What is one thing that you are grateful for right now?
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What is one thing you are going to do for yourself (during your shift, after you leave, etc.)?
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What is one thing that is currently giving you hope?
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Give a shout out to yourself and a shout out to someone on the team.
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Share one best thing and one hard thing that happened yesterday and how are you going to cope.
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What is something funny that happened (yesterday, during your shift, etc.)? I know this sounds odd but there’s a lot of research on the benefits of healthy humor.
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What is something that you want to remember or remind yourself during your shift/workday today?
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Have a few more minutes? Try walking people through STOP (Stop, Take a breath, Observe thoughts and feelings, Proceed with intention)
Originally published December 2021.
Megan Call
Amy Locke
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