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Communication is key to teamwork...
...but if we aren't careful, we can lose the entire workday to seemingly-endless meetings with members of our team.
Check-in conversations are ideal for keeping coworkers and team members up to date and keeping everyone on task--without taking too much time.
Making check-in conversations a habit can greatly improve communication and productivity throughout your team.
What are check-in conversations?
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Check-in conversations are brief conversations with a team member or manager about:
What we're working on at present
Any challenges we're experiencing
How we can best help one another
Keeping a check-in conversation friendly and focused on the three items above will ensure that team members share open communication.
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Check-in conversations help team members remain:
engaged
focused
open
collaborative
The value of check-in conversations
We know from publications like the Harvard Business Review that teams who engage in regular check-in conversations experience higher engagement at work.
Having frequent, lively check-in conversations can help turn an ordinary project into an extraordinary achievement of teamwork!
How to conduct check-in conversations
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There's one important rule to keep in mind: make your check-in conversations work for you!
The team members taking part in the conversation are free to suggest a time and place for the check-in that works for them. You can hold an effective, productive check-in over a cup of coffee... or on a brief walk outside... or in your office--anywhere you feel comfortable and focused.
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"Make your check-in conversations work for you."
Tips for successful check-in conversations:
Come prepared. Make a note of your current projects and any challenges you may be facing.
Set a timer for 15 minutes. Challenge yourselves to cover all three important topics in that time span.
Ask questions. Check-ins help facilitate teamwork--so take advantage and enjoy some insight from the team!
Quiz
Do you recall the three topics you should focus on, during check-in conversations? Which of the following is NOT a topic to focus on during check-ins?
Make check-in conversations a habit
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Having regular check-in conversations at least once per week encourages teamwork and increases engagement.
Schedule a few check-in conversations with your team members or manager, and determine how frequently you'd like to check-in. Some partnerships prefer to meet once per week, while others find it beneficial to meet more often--or even every day! Remember the most important rule: make your check-in conversations work for you!
After each check-in...
...be sure to make a note of what was discussed. This will help your next check-in conversation be even more productive.
Review the notes from your previous check-in and ask follow-up questions like:
"How have you been progressing, since then?"
"Did you try the strategy we discussed?"
"Since we last spoke, have things improved, or have they become more complicated?"
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Come prepared with your notes from your previous check-in conversation, when it's time for your next meeting.
Quiz
It's important to have check-in conversations...
Take Action
To summarize, check-in conversations are brief conversations with a team member or manager about:
What we're working on at present
Any challenges we're experiencing
How we can best help one another
It's important to keep these check-in conversations brief and to stay on topic. Remember: check-in conversations become more valuable when you make them a regular habit!
Challenge yourself to schedule a few check-in conversations with a team member or manager. Come prepared, stay focused, and enhance your teamwork and communication together!
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