Check In · Reflect & Reset
What I Need From This Hour
Name one thing the meeting needs to provide to be worth leaving your room.
Time3–5 minutes
Group size2+ people
FormatWhole group, Table groups
MaterialsVisible agenda, Optional sticky notes or shared document
What this accomplishes
A low-exposure check-in that doubles as a live agenda audit before the meeting begins.
- Give the facilitator a quick read of the room
- Let participants enter the agenda without a long round of updates
Before you begin
Materials
- Visible agenda
- Optional sticky notes or shared document
Preparation
- Display the meeting agenda
- Identify what can and cannot change today
- Prepare to name where requests will be handled
What to say
“What is one thing you need from this hour to make it worth having left your room? Keep it brief, and passing is fine.”
How to run it
- 1
Display the agenda before asking the question.
- 2
Collect one need per person or table in twenty seconds or less.
- 3
Mark requests the agenda already covers and name where others can fit.
- 4
If the pattern requires an agenda change, say so clearly before beginning.
Prompts to use
This hour would be useful if…
Adapt it to the room
Small group
Use one fast round. The facilitator answers first, and everyone may pass without explanation.
Large group
Run it simultaneously at tables or collect a silent room-wide signal; do not hear every response from the microphone.
Virtual
Use chat, a shared board, or a tightly timed verbal round. Private messages and passing remain available.
Accessibility & inclusion
- Display and read the prompt aloud.
- Allow speaking, writing, pointing, chat, or passing with equal status.
- Never require eye contact, an explanation, or a public follow-up.
Why it works—and what can go wrong
Why it works
The prompt treats participants' time as valuable and gives the leader immediate evidence about agenda relevance.
Watch out for
- Do not ask if the agenda is fixed and you are unwilling to acknowledge unmet needs.
- Follow up privately after the meeting; the check-in identifies where support may be needed but is not the support itself.
- Do not reward upbeat answers or treat a difficult answer as a public discussion prompt.