The 5-minute weekly check-in that actually works
When things feel off in a team, the first instinct is often: “Let’s meet more.”
But what if you could stay aligned, energized, and focused — without adding another meeting to the calendar?
This one simple habit does exactly that.
It takes just five minutes per person, and it changes how your team shows up for the week.
🔁 The 5-Minute Weekly Check-In
Use this simple structure. You can do it either written (Slack, Notion, etc.) or in a quick 1-on-1.
Focus: What’s my most important priority this week?
Obstacle: What might get in the way?
Support: What do I need (or not need) from my team or leader?
Energy: How am I showing up this week? (Scale from 1 to 10)
Commitment: What will I deliver by Friday?
Run it every Monday.
Same rhythm. Same format.
Let it become a ritual.
💡 Why it works
It builds ownership without micromanagement
It increases psychological safety by surfacing energy and blockers
It prevents wasted weeks and scattered focus
It gives you, as a leader, real-time signals of what to support and where to step back
✨ Bonus tip:
Don’t keep it one-way.
Encourage your team to share check-ins with each other— not just with you.
That way, you build peer accountability and trust, not just top-down updates.
And a pro-tip: also share your check-in with the team. And be honest about what you share.
Is your energy low? Share it!
Do you encounter an obstacle? Share it!
Coming next:
Next week, I’ll show you how I combine this check-in format with AI to spot patterns in teams — and respond more effectively, without spending hours analyzing feedback.
Until then:
Lead with rhythm. Create clarity. Stay human.
— Bob
Creator of Lead with Impact