Awkward silences, side conversations, secret multitasking — we’ve all sat through team meetings like this.
But by asking the right questions, you can turn your meetings into sources of connection, collaboration, and creativity.
This article provides a list of check-in questions you can ask during meetings to make these sessions as comfortable and productive for attendees as possible.
What are check-in questions?
Check-in questions are like warm-up exercises. They are conversation starters, simple prompts, or queries used during meetings to get people talking and engaged before the actual meeting begins.
But they go deeper than just small talk. Their goal is to invite team members to share their thoughts, feelings, or updates on both their professional and personal lives.
Why are check-in questions relevant?
Modern teams are often spread across different locations, come from diverse backgrounds, and work at a fast pace. This environment leads to isolation and disconnect — despite being “constantly connected” online. In fact, 1 in 5 employees worldwide feel lonely at work.
Check-in questions are a simple yet powerful way to bridge distances, break barriers, and create a sense of community, especially among remote teams.
While tasks and deadlines are, of course, important to discuss in meetings, they shouldn’t be the sole focus because teams are made up of people — individuals with unique experiences and perspectives.
Check-in questions acknowledge this human element and create space for personal expression. They give your team a chance to share who they are instead of what they do.
What are some of the common challenges that check-in questions can solve?
A simple check-in can help you create a happier, healthier, and more productive workforce by solving the following problems:
Demotivation
Is your team motivated during meetings? Maybe not, since 52% of business leaders in North America say low engagement in meetings is their biggest challenge.
Lack of clear goals, feeling undervalued, burnout, and not being challenged enough are all common culprits behind low engagement.
Open-ended check-in questions like "What's one thing you're hoping to accomplish this week?" or "What challenges are you currently facing?" can help you pinpoint any underlying issues that might be causing demotivation in your team.
Check-in questions also help you gauge each employee’s energy level and offer support as needed. They’re a platform for sharing successes and recognizing a job well done — boosting morale and engagement in the process.
Cross-departmental issues
Working collaboratively across departments is often easier said than done. There’s always a risk of misaligned goals, miscommunication, competing priorities, and different work styles.
Check-in questions are a great way to build bridges between different departments and teams. Through actively checking in with other areas of the business, you can often identify overlapping or potential points of conflict and work on solutions collaboratively.
Moreover, check-in questions can promote a sense of shared purpose. They help everyone understand how each team's work impacts the others.
Communication barriers
Effective communication is probably one of the hardest skills to master, especially when it comes to remote teams. Cultural differences, personality clashes, and power dynamics can quickly escalate a simple miscommunication into a full-blown crisis.
The problem is that people don't always feel comfortable voicing their concerns or asking for clarification.
Check-in questions help break down these silos and encourage open dialogue across the company. They can highlight areas of confusion, allowing you to quickly address misinterpretations or misunderstandings before they damage team morale and productivity.
Insufficient training
Despite new technology constantly emerging, there's often not enough training available to help employees adapt. This, when paired with poor onboarding and performance management, can leave your employees unsure of how to grow and succeed in the company.
By asking check-in questions, you can identify various skills gaps in your team. Plus, you can gather feedback on existing training programs that help you tailor training initiatives and onboarding experiences to your team’s specific needs.
Lack of recognition
In the rush to achieve goals and meet deadlines, recognition and appreciation get put on the back burner. As a result, 63% of employees don’t feel recognized at work, and 39% don't feel appreciated at all.
Check-in questions acknowledge individual contributions and celebrate team successes. They nurture a company culture of continuous improvement and appreciation.
When you provide specific feedback on what's working well and offer constructive guidance, teams get a more supportive and motivating work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to do better.
What are the benefits of check-in questions during a meeting?
Get into the habit of asking check-in questions for team meetings to:
Strengthen team relationships
Fifty-nine percent of employees believe that working together with their colleagues, either on video or in person, energizes them. In other words, over half of the workforce craves connection — and check-in questions help nurture that connection.
Check-in questions create space for vulnerability and shared experiences, which, in turn, cultivates trust and deeper connections between team members. You actually get to know your team members beyond their job titles.
These questions also help break down social barriers and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
Encourage dialogue and openness
Open dialogue and active listening are the keys to a truly effective meeting. Meetings that actively encourage participation tend to be more productive and, well, enjoyable.
By welcoming transparency, your team members get the space and freedom they need to share their thoughts and concerns, and you gain a more well-rounded perspective that helps you make better decisions.
Improve team collaboration
Did you know that 54% of workers leave meetings unsure of what to do next or who’s doing what?
Check-ins ensure that you and your team are on the same page when it comes to project progress, individual tasks, and goals. Moreover, you get to know who you’re working with and how you’ll be doing so.
Understanding individual strengths, communication styles, and work preferences allows you to leverage everyone's talents and collaborate more effectively.
Enhance meeting productivity
How many of your virtual meetings are actually productive? Research shows that 79% of employees multitask during meetings — a clear sign that they're not engaged or focused.
Thought-provoking check-in questions can help change that by piquing curiosity and setting a positive tone for each meeting. This leads to more productive and engaging discussions.
These questions can also re-energize attendees and redirect their attention back to the meeting agenda when needed.
30 best check-in questions, sorted by type
We’ve compiled 30 of the best check-in questions to try in your next meeting:
Icebreaker questions
Icebreaker questions are lighthearted prompts designed to ease people into conversations and create a sense of camaraderie. They’re helpful when asked at the beginning of a meeting, especially when the team is new or the attendees don't know each other well.
Which emoji best represents you now?
Ask this if you want to determine your team’s current mood or state of mind in a fun way.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and why?
Ask this if you want to encourage creativity and learn about your team’s personalities and aspirations.
What's your hidden talent or something few people know about you?
Ask this if you want to spark curiosity and create opportunities for surprise and connection.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go, and why?
Ask this if you want to find out about your team’s interests, dreams, and priorities.
What's your favorite way to celebrate a personal or professional achievement?
Ask this if you want to gain insights into team values and motivations.
Daily check-in questions
Daily check-in questions are a convenient way to gauge how your team members are feeling and progressing in their tasks. They are effective in quick, recurring meetings, like catch up meetings or team huddles.
What's your top priority today?
Ask this if you want to help everyone focus and stay aligned on important tasks.
What are you most excited about working on today?
Ask this if you want to boost team morale.
Is there anything blocking your progress?
Ask this if you want to proactively identify and resolve challenges.
What's one thing you learned yesterday that you can apply today?
Ask this if you want to encourage continuous learning and knowledge-sharing.
On a scale of 1-10, how are you feeling about your workload today?
Ask this if you want to quickly assess individual capacity and well-being to prevent burnout.
Team check-in questions
Team check-in questions focus on the health of your team's dynamics, collaboration, and morale. Use them during weekly meetings or regular pulse checks to create a sense of belonging and identify areas for improvement.
What's one thing our team does really well together?
Ask this if you want to celebrate team strengths and reinforce positive behaviors.
What's one thing we could improve as a team?
Ask this if you want to identify areas for growth and encourage open communication.
How can we better support each other's work?
Ask this if you want to foster collaboration and a sense of shared responsibility.
What are you most proud of that your team has accomplished recently?
Ask this if you want to recognize achievements and build team pride.
On a scale of 1-10, how connected do you feel to your team?
Ask this if you want to gauge your team’s overall sense of belonging and improve its cohesiveness.
Progress check-in questions
Track individual or team goals with progress check-in questions. These help monitor milestones and identify potential issues, making them ideal for project meetings or one-on-one check-in meetings.
What progress have you made on your goals since our last meeting?
Ask this if you want to keep projects on track and celebrate wins.
What's the single most impactful action you can take to move the needle on your project this week?
Ask this if you want to identify the most impactful task in a project and drive the project forward.
Are there any obstacles you need help with?
Ask this if you want to offer support and proactively address challenges.
What are your biggest lessons so far?
Ask this if you want to encourage self-reflection and continuous improvement.
What resources or information would be most helpful for you right now?
Ask this if you want to identify specific needs and provide targeted support.
Personal development questions
These check-in questions focus on individual growth, learning, and well-being. Although they're centered around personal development, they can significantly affect how well your employees do at work. Try them during your next one-on-one meeting.
What new skills are you most interested in developing?
Ask this if you want to support individual growth and align learning with career goals.
What are you currently doing to improve your skills or knowledge?
Ask this if you want to encourage a growth mindset.
What are your career aspirations for the next year?
Ask this if you want to help employees set attainable goals and create development plans.
What kind of support do you need to achieve your professional goals?
Ask this if you want to provide resources and guidance to help your employee succeed.
How can I help you feel more engaged and fulfilled in your work?
Ask this if you want to receive honest feedback and provide better support.
Reflective check-in questions
Reflective questions encourage deeper thinking and self-awareness. By helping your team better understand themselves, you empower them to become more effective communicators, collaborators, and problem-solvers.
These questions are perfect for team retrospectives, coaching sessions, or personal development discussions.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Ask this if you want to encourage reflection and allow team members to share wisdom.
What's one thing you're grateful for in your work or life right now?
Ask this if you want to foster a sense of gratitude and positivity within the team.
What's one thing that’s sparked your curiosity this week?
Ask this if you want to promote discovery and inspire lifelong learning.
What's one area where you feel you've grown or developed recently?
Ask this if you want to celebrate individual growth and identify further development opportunities.
What's something you learned recently that challenged your assumptions?
Ask this if you want to promote open-mindedness and stimulate thoughtful discussions.
How to hold an effective meeting with check-in questions: Tips and best practices
Check-in questions can make a positive difference in how your team experiences meetings — but only if you use them effectively.
Here are some tips:
Spark meaningful conversations
Your goal is to ask questions that not only get factual answers but also invite reflection and the sharing of experiences.
The ideal scenario is to create a safe space where meaningful conversations can happen. To make this happen, make sure your team builds on each other's responses and validates each other's contributions.
Create an inclusive space
When working with a diverse team — as is common in 2024 — it’s important to use inclusive language. Because people may be from different backgrounds, their cultures and experiences can affect how they interpret and communicate.
Choose words that make everyone feel welcome and respected. Remember to also help those quieter voices get heard so that outspoken personalities don't take over. Gently nudge or directly invite them to share their thoughts.
Respect boundaries
Always give your team the choice to pass on a question if they don’t feel comfortable answering it. Allow them to set boundaries, and make it clear that participation is voluntary. This shouldn’t be a forced experience but a collaborative one.
The rule of thumb is to steer clear of questions that are overly personal, controversial, or offensive. For example, it’s typically not a good idea to ask about someone's political views, religious beliefs, or financial situation, as these topics can cause tension.
Design intentional questions
Be intentional when asking questions. Choose those that support the meeting’s purpose and desired outcome.
For instance, if you’re having a product brainstorming meeting, ask questions that spark creativity and encourage out-of-the-box thinking.
You can also ask questions that help you learn more about your team. Use this as an opportunity to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and communication styles.
A mix of open-ended, closed-ended, and fun questions can keep the meeting engaging and interesting for all participants.
Be present and engaged
Even the most thoughtful of questions won't have an impact if you're not fully present during the check-in meeting. Practice active listening. Avoid cutting anyone off or talking while someone else is sharing. When team members feel respected and heard, they get a safe place to share vulnerabilities and build trust.
A good tip is to ask follow-up questions and show interest after someone shares. This not only deepens the conversation but also indicates that you value the individual’s contribution.
How Lark can empower your meetings and your workplace
Boost team productivity and collaboration with Lark. Here’s just some of what Lark Suite can do for you, whether in meetings or in the wider workflow:
Real-time translation and transcription
Communicate with your global team in their native languages. Lark Meetings offers real-time translation in multiple languages, letting everyone understand and participate.
Lark Minutes automatically transcribes meetings for you. So, instead of focusing on taking notes, your team can be truly present in the conversation.
Centralized knowledge base
Store all your team's important documents — such as meeting agendas and notes — files, and resources in one place. This way, everyone stays aligned and has easy access to the information they need.
Lark Docs also allows you to work together on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real time. Plus, you can streamline the revision process with our version history feature that lets you track changes and revert to previous versions as needed.
Approvals for multi-location branches
Lark Approvals is a game-changer for multi-location companies. Custom approval processes for different requests help get important requests approved during or right after meetings.
This means no more back-and-forth emails or messages. Instead, you can make faster decisions and get things done when needed.
We also give you a clear overview of pending approvals that need your immediate attention so that nothing skips through the cracks.
Integrated calendar and task management
Scheduling meetings can be a headache. It’s no wonder that 82.5% of employees have rescheduled, canceled, and skipped a meeting.
Lark Calendar is here to help. Schedule meetings at the ideal times for everyone to prevent overlapping and wasted coordination time. Keep track of your schedule with multiple views (daily, weekly, monthly, or project-based) in a way that makes sense for you.
The best part? Lark Base allows you to add events, tasks, and groups to Lark Calendar so that you can prioritize tasks and plan your time more effectively. You can also easily assign tasks, set deadlines for them, and track their progress.
Supercharge your workday with Lark
Transform how you work and meet with our all-in-one platform for communication, project management, and team collaboration. Try Lark for free now.
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