PRODUCTIVITY

Check-in, Check-out

A simple yet effective method for kicking off and wrapping up a work day with your team. Boost productivity and improve team cohesiveness at the same time.

Goals

Connect with the team
Plan your day
Share your workload

Tool themes

Productivity
Team-building
Time management

Information

Group size 1-6 people

Time 30 minutes

Material Timer

Level Easy

Facilitation Beginner

Before you start

Define a check-in and check-out time, and communicate these with all team members. Stick to these consistently, as the benefits of the exercise only get better and better over time.

Getting together as a team twice a day to communicate goals, progress, feelings and needs has innumerable benefits for productivity and morale. This tool is extremely valuable for any team, but especially those working remotely.

STEP 1

Sit down together with your team (or gather in the same digital space) and set a timer for about 30 minutes. For the first round of discussion, start by asking how everyone is doing.

STEP 2

Open the second round by asking what everyone will be working on throughout the day and what they aim to achieve by check-out time. The management of tasks will flow naturally from this conversation. Team members who are less busy can support others, and capacities can be better allocated.

STEP 3

When it’s time for the check-out that evening, start by asking everyone how their work day went. Was the workload appropriate; are they happy with what they achieved? What kind of support could have helped them work better? Continue around the circle, asking everyone to share the results of their day. This method will make everyone feel appreciated and heard, as well as contributing to a shared feeling of progress.

The more that check-in and check-out become a habit, the greater the benefits to your workflow and your team dynamics. Our recomendation is to schedule a 30-minute check-in on Tuesday to Friday mornings, with a longer one on Monday to kick off the new week.

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