Technology for Team Updates and Check-ins

With hybrid schedules and teams partly remote, managing capacity and workforce can be a little tricky. We have two tools at TSM that we use to communicate with everyone and organize our work. Both have an origin during the 100% work from home days, but as we have returned to the office they continue to prove useful. 

We use a tool called Geekbot - that automates a reminder on slack each morning at 8 am. It includes these prompts:

1. How do you feel today?
2. What are the top 5 things on your agenda today?
3. What is blocking your progress? Do you need help? 
4. Do you have capacity to add today or extra time to offer?

The result is a very quick snapshot of each person's capacity. This allows us to reshuffle duties, gives people space and permission to lift up difficulties, and gives a personal space to share a life barrier. All in all - a super informative snapshot of the team. It works so well because it takes 2 minutes to fill out, so it doesn't feel like a burden, and it is automated - no one has to remember to do it. 

Our second check-in comes Monday mornings - the expectation is that everyone fills this out by 9 am - it takes a bit longer but the aim is the same - what does your week look like? This one lives in our Project Management software, Asana.

1. This week will be successful if: 
2. Key Updates from last week's priorities
3. I need help or support on 
4. On the back burner/not getting to yet 
5. Vacation, PTO, life updates 

Both serve the purpose of helping distribute knowledge to the team and reduce siloes in work.

Drop us a note in the comments section below if you’ve found a magic solution you love!