Ever Had This Meeting Moment?
You’ve had an exciting, action-packed meeting. Everyone seemed aligned, you walked away with a clear list of action items… and then? Crickets. No one follows up, no actions are taken, and you’re left wondering if that energy just evaporated.
Sound familiar?
This isn’t just a manager’s problem. If you own a project or are responsible for solving an issue, whether your meeting audience is subordinates, peers, or even higher leadership, following up effectively is key.
But how do you check back in without sounding pushy or overbearing, while making sure actions actually happen?
Let’s break it down with a foolproof template for a follow-up call that only takes 30 minutes!
The “Check-in Sprint”
(Forget “follow-up meeting”—we’re moving fast and making things happen!)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
1. 🔥 Rapid Fire Recap (5 minutes)
- Objective: Kick things off with a quick, fun recap of the last meeting.
- How: Turn it into a mini-quiz. Ask rapid-fire questions to key players to review decisions and next steps. Keep it fun, not formal.
💡 Tip: Use humor or playful competition—reward the person who remembers the most with a small token (even bragging rights will do!).
2. 📝 Whiteboard Share: What’s Changed? (5 minutes)
- Objective: Share what has been done since the last meeting.
- How: Silent brainstorming where each person writes what they’ve stopped, started, and are doing differently on a shared whiteboard.
💡 Tip: Prep them in advance. No surprises here—let everyone know to come with an update ready.
3. 💬 Open Discussion (3 minutes)
- Objective: Get a pulse check on how these changes have impacted work.
- How: Open the floor briefly to discuss any noticeable improvements or obstacles. Keep it concise.
💡 Tip: Ask a single question: “What’s one thing that’s going well since the last meeting?”
4. 🚧 Challenge Brainstorm: What’s Blocking You? (5 minutes)
- Objective: Surface any challenges faced in implementing the changes.
- How: Use the whiteboard again to capture challenges and ask two key questions: What have you tried to address it? What support do you need?
💡 Tip: Don’t allow vague answers like “we’re working on it.” Push for specifics—what exact support is needed?
5. ⏭️ Next Steps (7 minutes)
- Objective: Nail down actionable, concrete next steps for everyone.
- How:
-
- Each person commits to one action item they will take and writes it on the board for accountability.
- Set a deadline for each action.
- Decide on a follow-up method that doesn’t involve another meeting—use shared docs, project boards, or internal messaging platforms.
- Share a summary of the discussion, including deadlines and responsibilities.
💡 Tip: Set deadlines for every action point. Accountability increases when there’s a clear timeline.
By following this “Check-in Sprint”, you ensure that all that energy and creativity from the original meeting doesn’t fizzle out.
You’ve kept everyone accountable and focused, and most importantly, kept things moving forward without overwhelming anyone with another meeting.
Use this template, and you’ll go from crickets to action—and ultimately, results. 🏁
Find your flow, then don’t let go.
