Chair Check-in
The Chair Check-in is a quick and impactful method to help participants become present and focused at the start of a meeting or workshop. By combining physical movement, reflection, and concise summarization, it fosters a sense of connection and shared purpose.
Use this method at the beginning of a session to help participants transition from their previous activities and mentally prepare for the upcoming work. It's particularly useful when you need to quickly establish a sense of presence and shared intention within a large group.
Solves: Lack of focus at the start of a session, participants bringing distractions and anxieties into the room, difficulty establishing a shared sense of purpose.
- 1
Step 1: Invitation (0:30) - Invite participants to stand up and step behind their chairs.
- 2
Step 2: Reflection (1:00) - Instruct participants to turn around, facing away from the circle, and notice their physical, mental, and emotional state.
- 3
Step 3: Selection (0:30) - Ask participants to choose one aspect of their state that they want to bring into the session.
- 4
Step 4: Summarization (0:30) - Instruct participants to turn back around and summarize their chosen aspect in a single word, then sit down.
- 5
Step 5: Sharing (1:00) - Go around the circle, having each participant share their word and look at the person to their left.
- 6
Step 6: Affirmation (0:30) - As a group, say "I'm in" and "Welcome" to signify readiness and inclusion.
- Use a calm, meditative voice during the reflection phase.
- Adjust the wording of the instructions to fit your personal style.
- Ensure the chairs are arranged in a proper circle to enhance the psychogeometry.
- If chairs are not available, have participants raise their hands instead of sitting down after choosing their word.
- Allow participants to share their word in the chat if running the activity remotely.