52 engaging check-in questions for meetings

Meetings are so much more than just meetings. They’re an opportunity for team members to connect, learn about one another on a more personal level, and set the stage for some serious collaboration. 

Check-in questions for meetings are designed to foster engagement and build an immediate connection, giving everyone a chance to share a laugh, a quirky fact, or maybe just spill the tea about their latest Netflix binge. From one-on-ones to project meetings, check out these check-in meeting question examples to get the party started. 

General meeting check-in questions

Starting a meeting with some easy-breezy general check-in questions isn't just a way to break the ice; it's a great strategy for getting everyone on the same page and ready to share their thoughts. Questions like, "How's everyone doing today?" or "Did you have a good weekend?" set a positive tone, fostering a more relaxed and open atmosphere. 

These questions go beyond small talk, though — they can uncover potential issues or celebrations that can help tailor the discussion. Plus, it's a cool way to build team spirit and enhance collaboration, making your work feel more like a hangout and less like, well, work.

General meeting check-in question examples: 

• Any exciting news or updates to share?
• Did anything interesting happen over the weekend that you'd like to highlight?
• Any wins/challenges/updates you’d like to share?
• What are you focusing on this week?
• What are your top priorities this week?
• Any tools, resources, or support you need?
• Do you feel supported by leadership?

One-on-one check-in questions

When diving into a one-on-one meeting, a quick check-in sets the stage for a more personal and productive conversation. The purpose here is twofold — not only does it help create a comfortable and open environment, but it also gives insight into any potential challenges or concerns your cohort might be facing. 

A brief, casual check-in before your one-on-ones helps foster honest communication and builds a stronger professional relationship between you and your team. It's a small investment upfront that pays off with a more meaningful and effective meeting.

One-on-one check-in question examples:

• How have you been since our last check-in? Anything exciting happen in your life?
• What progress have you made on your current goals?
• Can you share a recent accomplishment you’re proud of?
• How are you feeling about your current workload?
• On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your workload right now?
• Are there any roadblocks or challenges you’re currently facing?
• What’s been your favorite part of work lately?
• What are your priorities for the upcoming week?
• How can I better support you?

Team meeting check-in questions

Whether your team meets daily or once a month, it’s important to keep everyone in the loop so each team member feels seen and heard. Starting your team meetings with a few check-in questions helps build trust among team members — the glue for team cohesion and effective collaboration. 

Team leaders also have a lot to gain from team meeting check-in questions. You’ll get an inside look at each member's well-being, productivity levels, and challenges so you can offer support and drive the discussion to better meet everyone’s needs. 

Team meeting check-in question examples: 

• Did anything interesting happen over the weekend that you'd like to highlight?
• Can each of you give a quick update on your current projects or tasks?
• Is there anything specific you'd like assistance with or input on from the team?
• Did you come across any noteworthy articles or resources recently that you think the team might find valuable?
• How can we better support each other in achieving our goals this week?
• Is there any feedback or suggestions for improvement regarding our recent projects or processes?
• What's one thing you're looking forward to accomplishing this week?

Daily meeting check-in questions

For Scrum teams and those working in fast-paced Agile environments, daily check-ins are the MVP. These quick morning assemblies give everyone a chance to cover what they accomplished the previous day, what they plan to do next, and any issues they may be running into. 

These meetings are designed to be as quick and efficient as possible. Give everyone one or two minutes to speak, and set aside time for your team to collaborate on the day’s game plan. 

Daily meeting check-in question examples: 

• What did you accomplish yesterday, and what are your priorities for today?
• Are there any obstacles or challenges preventing you from moving forward with your tasks?
• Did you encounter any unexpected issues the team should know about?
• Is there anything you need assistance with or additional resources required to meet your goals?
• How will you contribute to the team's overall objectives today?
• Are there any dependencies between team members that need attention or coordination?
• On a scale from 1-10, how confident are you in achieving your daily goals?
• What's one thing you learned or observed yesterday that might be useful for the team?
• Any feedback or suggestions for improving our daily workflow or communication?

Project meeting check-in questions

Project meeting check-ins are valuable tools for checking alignment, tracking progress, and addressing roadblocks within a project team. These questions give each team member a chance to share their goals and any hurdles they’re dealing with. 

By asking these questions at the beginning of a project meeting, team leaders can:

• Tailor the agenda to what the team needs right now
• Clear up who’s doing what
• Promote accountability and make sure everyone’s doing their part
• Drive progress toward collective goals

Project meeting check-in question examples: 

• What progress have we made since our last project meeting?
• Are we on schedule according to the project timeline? Any delays or potential bottlenecks?
• Have there been any changes in project scope, requirements, or priorities?
• How is the team collaboration and communication going? Any challenges or improvements needed?
• Have any risks or issues emerged, and what steps are being taken to address them?
• Can each team member give a brief update on their specific tasks and responsibilities?
• Is the project budget tracking as expected? Any unforeseen expenses or cost savings?
• Are we meeting the project's quality standards? If not, what actions are being taken to address this?
• Have there been any notable achievements or successes since the last meeting?
• What decisions or approvals are required to keep the project moving forward?

Fun check-in questions

Hitting the ground running can be a lot to take in during an intense 8 a.m. retrospective meeting. Help your team ease into the go-getter mindset by kicking off the meeting with some fun, lighthearted check-in questions. 

These questions — not work-related at all — help everyone loosen up, laugh a bit, and feel more like a team before diving into the nitty-gritty. 

Fun check-in question examples:

• If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be and why?
• What's the most interesting thing you've watched or read recently?
• If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
• What's your go-to comfort food or guilty pleasure snack?
• Share a fun fact about yourself that most people don't know.
• If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
• What's a hobby or activity you've taken up recently or would like to try?
• If you could teleport anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
• What's a childhood TV show or movie that you still love to watch?
• If your pet could talk, what do you think they would say about you?

What are check-ins and why do you need them?

Check-ins play a big role in maintaining effective communication within a team or group. These informal sessions bring a human element to the conversation, giving everyone the opportunity to catch up with one another on a professional and personal level. 

Asking check-in questions for meetings can help with:

• Team building: Create a positive and supportive team culture that prioritizes open communication.
• Engagement: Keep things interesting by giving every team member a chance to jump in and share during the meeting — it's all about keeping the gang focused and part of the action.
• Awareness: Tighten the loop by checking in on each other's progress and challenges. You're all in this together, so make sure everyone's up-to-date.
• Communication: Cut through the noise and make sure everyone's on the same page about tasks, priorities, and any looming roadblocks.
• Problem identification: Have everyone share their issues and challenges so you can solve them as a team.
• Motivation: Celebrate the wins, big and small, that your teammates share during the check-in to boost morale.
• Adaptability: Things change and priorities shift — stay on your toes by quickly spotting those changes and adjusting your plans accordingly. 
• Personal connection: Bring a bit of heart into the mix by building personal connections among the team.
• Productivity: Keep the engine running smoothly by promoting accountability and avoiding mix-ups. It's all about making sure everyone's on track and crushing their tasks.

Check-in questions best practices

Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to run a pre-meeting check-in. These sessions are meant to be positive and lighthearted, but there’s a fine line between encouraging genuine sharing and getting way too personal. 

Striking the right balance lets your check-in questions serve their purpose of building camaraderie without crossing any uncomfortable boundaries. Here are our top tips for running a winning check-in:

• Be inclusive: Craft check-in questions that embrace diverse perspectives and backgrounds so everyone feels part of the chat.
• Keep it casual: Set a laid-back vibe by keeping questions informal, encouraging team members to share without feeling pressured.
• Rotate questions: Switch things up with different questions each time; it keeps the check-ins from getting boring and makes sure everyone stays interested.
• Set a positive tone: Kick things off with lighthearted questions, making the meeting a friendly space for team talks and camaraderie.
• Respect privacy: Keep it light, stay away from super personal stuff, and respect everyone's boundaries; nobody wants awkward vibes during check-ins.
• Encourage honesty: Tell it like it is! Build trust by getting your team to spill the beans on what's really going on, even if it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
• Allow opt-outs: Let folks skip a question if they don’t feel like sharing that day; no pressure or judgment allowed.
• Celebrate achievements: Wrap up your check-ins with a little victory dance. Shout out the wins, big or small, and keep the positive energy flowing. 

Streamline check-ins with Mentimeter

With interactive surveys, live polls, and eye-catching word clouds, Mentimeter makes it easy to ask check-in questions for meetings. Save time by allowing participants to answer with a simple click of a button so you can get insights immediately and focus on what your audience really needs to hear.