Check In/Out

Check Ins and Check Outs are a very effective methods for 'reading' the group you are working with, to better understand the needs of the participants. What are their energy levels? How well do they know each other? What do they want to share with the others in order to be fully present? To best facilitate a Check In/Out it's preferable to sit (or stand) with all participants in a circle.

Check-In processes are fundamental to the work we engage in and set the context and tone for what we will do together in our workshops and training sessions. The shaping of Check In questions in a thoughtful, purposeful, and intentional manner increases the likelihood of them eliciting a powerful and positive response. Checking-In invites each member in a group to be present, seen, and heard and emphasises focus, group commitment, and group empathy. Checking In also helps facilitators to react according to a group's needs and change plans if necessary.

Below you will find guidelines for hosting an effective Check In or Check Out.

Guidelines

One person talks at a time and the others practise active listening.

Encourage members not to interrupt each other while talking or react after talking.

You can go round the circle or you can do 'pop-up' style where someone only speaks when they are ready to share.

As a member finishes talking they say "check in" to indicate that they've finished sharing, opening up the space for the next person to share.

Differentiation

Sometimes it works well to let people share in duos/trios before sharing amongst the whole group, creating a better focus on what's being said. It can also be effective if people share what they've understood from the other person's check in.

Check In/Out Options

Questions

Using questions is one the most common ways to run a Check In/Out.

Find a question that fits the context and the group.

For example:

- How are you today?

- What will make today a good day for you?

- What is your best memory of.....?

- What is your superpower?

Objects

A way of establishing a creative and personal Check In is to bring objects to the circle. For example: Put as many objects into the circle as there are participants and ask everyone to take the object that most attracts him/her. Then ask the group "What does this object say about you as a person?"

The Check In is each participant's personal answer and you can let the participants share in pairs before sharing to the whole group.

Sound or Movement

This can be an effective non-verbal Check In/Out. For example:

Instead of sharing with words you ask the participants to make the sound or movement that reflects how they feel today. Another example could be: "Make the sound or movement that best fits your superpower."

Drawing

Another creative Check In/Out is to provide paper, pens and a theme and encourage the group members to draw how they're feeling, before checking in by sharing their thoughts and feelings - either by explaining, or simply showing the group their drawing.

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