Cooking Up Connection: 5 Minute Check-In Recipe
In the fast-paced tourism and hospitality industry, where efficiency, morale, and teamwork drive success, creating a culture of regular employee check-ins can transform your business. These moments of connection aren’t just “nice-to-haves”—they directly impact your bottom line.
According to Gallup, the behaviors of highly engaged business units—including greater attentiveness to customer needs, stronger adherence to processes, and increased productivity—lead to a 23% difference in profitability compared to less engaged counterparts. A well-structured check-in process builds trust, strengthens communication, and demonstrates that you value your employees as individuals. The result? Increased employee engagement, reduced turnover, and a team ready to tackle challenges together.
The Recipe for 5-min Check-Ins
Check-ins don’t have to be lengthy to be impactful. A 5-minute check-in, done consistently, can strengthen worker-leader relationships and keep priorities on track. The 5-min Check-In Recipe offers a practical, repeatable structure that ensures every conversation is meaningful.
Prep Time: 5 mins Meet Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 10 mins Servings: 2
Ingredients:
- Leader & Worker
- Check-In Inventory
- Quiet space
- Supportive approach
Steps:
- Prep the Ingredients: Begin with the Check-In Inventory, which organizes your notes on each employee’s progress, action items, and key wins. Reviewing these ahead of time ensures you’re prepared to have a focused conversation.
- Stir in Connection: Start with a win—something the team or individual accomplished recently. Then check on their well-being, respecting personal boundaries while showing care.
- Simmer on Tasks: Dive into work priorities, clarify tasks, and discuss any roadblocks. Collaboratively set clear expectations.
- Season with Support: Brainstorm strategies to overcome challenges and offer resources to help. Your support reinforces their confidence.
- Serve with Appreciation: Close with encouragement, highlight progress, and express confidence in their abilities to meet future goals.
Introducing the Check-In Inventory
To make this process practical and efficient, the Check-In Inventory is your go-to tool for planning and tracking check-ins. This simple, printable form ensures every check-in has structure and purpose.
- Pre-meeting Notes: Quickly prepare for discussions.
- Wellbeing Check: Track general well-being while honoring privacy. *Note: honour boundaries—an employee only needs to disclose what is impacting their workload, etc., not personal health details, unless they choose to share. *
- Task Clarity: Note areas where support or clarification is needed.
- Action Items: Keep track of what’s next for them and you.
- Wins: Celebrate accomplishments, big or small.
Using this inventory helps create a consistent check-in process. Over time, it becomes a reference to track progress, identify patterns, and show employees that their growth and well-being matter.
Practical Tips for Using the Inventory
- Print One for Each Employee: Create a dedicated inventory sheet for every team member to track their progress over time.
- Set a Consistent Cadence: Decide on a regular schedule for 5-minute check-ins, whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, based on your team’s needs. Consistency builds trust and ensures ongoing communication.
- Use It as a Reference: Over time, the inventory becomes a valuable resource for identifying patterns, highlighting achievements, and addressing challenges proactively.
- Incorporate the Mental Health Continuum into your check-ins to level up ‘Step 2- Stir in Connection’! *Note: honour boundaries—an employee only needs to disclose what is impacting their workload, etc., not personal health details, unless they choose to share. *
Next Steps
Implementing a check-in process tailored to your workplace starts with a conversation. If you’re already having these conversations, continue to build on that momentum by using these tools to refine and strengthen your approach. If you’re new to the process, now is the perfect time to begin.
You can get started right away by integrating these strategies into your daily operations. If you have questions or need further support, contact one of our Mental Health & Psychological Safety Consultants. Together, we’ll ensure the check-in process aligns with your team’s needs, driving employee engagement, growth, and success.