Check-In

A check-in is a technique used at the beginning of a meeting to give everyone an opportunity to speak, and during meeting transitions to survey the group's current status. The simplest check-in is simply to ask each person how they are. There are many more specific check-in techniques, each developed for a specific meeting context.

All check-ins work to:

• Increase participation: everyone starts by participating right up front, making it impossible to multi-task on other work.
• Get all voices heard: everyone participates equally, helping reduce issues created when meeting with people of unequal social status, job level, or dominant/passive personalities.
• Set the tone: the question asked during the check-in frames the mood for the following conversation.
• Build trust and/or shared understanding: as people listen to each other's individual responses, learning more about the group and what they each share in common.