How Not to Check in with Your Team

Be the boss that your people want to talk to

How’s it going?

Everything alright?

We good?

Winning?

These questions are perfect for bosses to ask when they want to feel like they are in touch with their employees, but who don’t want to invest much time or emotion. You know them. They give fist bumps and say things like, “your killing it!,” no matter what the answer is.

Staff Sgt. Shannon Knorr, Headquarters and Headquartets Company 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, and 1st Sgt. Bryan Smethurst, first sergeant HHC 1–211 AR of the Utah National Guard, conduct an end-of-tour counseling session in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 18.

But these might be the worst questions if you want to know how someone is truly doing and how to get them on the right track if they aren’t already there.

Sometimes you have to do a wellbeing check-in.

No, you’re not a social worker or a therapist. But guess what you are? A professional, whose role includes providing purpose, direction, and motivation to your team. It’s called leadership and it requires compassion, empathy, and time. Yes, you might have to venture into the land of feelings. You’re going to have to ask the right questions to learn this stuff and focus on the answers. That’s what I call a wellbeing check-in.

A proper wellbeing check-in gives you the information you need to be a good leader. It will help you understand the situation better and make decisions that are good for…