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Check in check out

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  • PHASE

Closing, Energiser / Warm up, Get-to-know, Opening

  • Core purpose / Focus

Collaboration, Group commitment, Intragroup openness

  • Skills / Content

Communication, Evaluation, Introspection

  • Time Frame

Up to 15 min, Up to 30 min, Up to 60 min

  • Group Size

6-15 persons, 16 – 30 persons

  • Facilitation Level

Beginner

  • Comfort zone

Safe

Introduction

Either checking-in or checking-out is a simple way for a team to open or close a process, symbolically and in a collaborative way. Checking-in/out invites each member in a group to be present, seen and heard, and to express a reflection or a feeling. Checking-in emphasizes presence, focus and group commitment; checking-out emphasizes reflection and symbolic closure.

Necessary tools (what you need)

  • Pick a videoconferencing tool

Steps

  1. Checking-in. Stand or sit in a circle. Invite each member of the group to share one thing they “check-in” with. This could be a feeling, a reflection from the previous day, an attitude they bring into this session, or something playful like “the animal that represents my mood today.” Choose a check-in question based on the group and the purpose of the program.
  2. Participants check-in one-by-one, either in order around the circle or at randomly. Once every person has checked-in one time, check-in is over.
  3. Checking-out: Stand or sit in a circle. Invite each member of the group to share one thing they “check-out” with. This could be a feeling, a reflection experience, the most important thing they take with them. Choose a check-out question based on the group and the purpose of the program.
  4. Participants check-out one-by-one either in order around the circle or at random. Once every person has checked-out one time, check-out is over.
  5. Ask each team member to prepare a list of three interesting “facts” about themselves, two of which must be completely made up. These could be anything from a place they have lived, a hobby they (do not) have, or a famous person they say they have met, etc.

Tips & Tricks

  • Ask people to check-in and check-out in order of how they are positioned in the video conferencing screen. I.e. start with the top left participant and cycle around.
  • Alternatively, have the facilitator call on people to deliver the check-in and check-out, though be sure to ensure everyone gets a turn.

The exercise is successfully completed when? Conclusion?

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The views and opinions expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission