Some managers rarely check in with their employees. If things are running smoothly and everyone is doing their job then they might think “What’s the point?”
Even the perfect team needs regular check-ins and here is why.
Avoiding Miscommunication
One miscommunication can make a mess of even the most smoothly running team. By checking in with your team you can avoid those miscommunications, or fix them before they truly mess something up. If you don’t check-in regularly, you might not notice a small miscommunication until an entire project has been done the wrong way!
“When the employees are checking on a regular basis, the[y] can compare notes and make sure that the employees understand exactly what they are supposed to be doing on the job. If the employees are not checking in, there can be some misunderstandings or misinterpretations about directions on the job.” – Thrive Global
Miscommunications are tiny things that can turn into messes. Taking the time to quickly check-in on your employees is a whole lot easier and less time consuming than trying to backtrack from a miscommunication that’s been left long enough to cause chaos.
Providing a Safe Space for Concerns
It’s a lot more comfortable for an employee to air their concerns when you’re seeking them, versus if they had to come build up the nerve to find you and tell you unprompted. During a check-in, you can sit down and ask them outright for feedback and concern. That’ll make them feel a lot more comfortable being honest—which also means you need to be willing to hear and act upon those concerns as well!
“Employees should feel like their one-on-one are a safe place to speak freely. Whether they want to know more about [the] direction of the business or their own personal performance, they should never be afraid to ask a question or share concerns.” – Entrepreneur
Without those regular check-ins, there are some employees that you might never hear from. If you can do something that will actively encourage your employees to be open and honest, then you should do it!
It Keeps Projects Moving
Check-ins tell your employees that they’ve got your attention, which means they can’t be slacking off. It increases their self awareness. Not only that, but you get the insight into the way your employees work which will help you know which kind of projects are best for them.
Here are things from the COO Alliance blog that indicate what check-ins facilitate to encourage your employees to continue moving forward:
- Let team members refocus lost attention
- Encourage understanding through good communication
- Give[s] everyone a voice and lets them know their input matters
- Build trust and lets everyone feel seen and heard
- Reminds us we are human and need connection in order to do good work
The reassurance that a manager is taking notice does wonders for an employees drive to get the job done and get it done well.
Remember, when you’re checking in, don’t do it aimlessly. Make sure you know what you want to talk about beforehand and have expectations of what you want to hear from your employees about their progress, concerns, and goals. Ask them questions and keep them talking. You want your employees to feel comfortable talking to you.
Most important of all, keep them regular. Setting specific times and days for check-ins will ensure that you get them done and, by having them scheduled, employees can prepare for them so that it doesn’t interrupt their workflow. Regular, structured check-ins can do wonders for your company.
If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!
