Simply Performance Management

How I Use Monthly Check-ins to Improve My Team's Performance and Engagement

One of the hardest challenges in managing a team is keeping everyone on track toward their goals, especially when things get busy.

Years ago, we were facing a big target, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how we’d hit it on time. But then I started thinking—what if we tried something different? What if we focused on regular check-ins to keep everything moving smoothly?

After a bit of trial and error, I found a system that worked surprisingly well:

Monthly check-ins.

Simple, focused conversations that help teams stay aligned and ahead of schedule.

Today, I’m going to show you how I use monthly check-ins to improve my team's performance and engagement.

This approach can work for your team too.

Here’s the playbook.

Step 1: Set Clear Goals (Before the Meeting)

Action: Break down quarterly/long-term goals into smaller, specific monthly targets for each team member
Example: If your goal is to increase sales by 15%, set clear targets like “Generate 50 new leads” for the marketing team
Why: Clear, measurable goals help everyone know exactly what to focus on and achieve

Step 2: Structure your Check-in (30 Minutes)

Action: Limit the meeting to 30 minutes with a structured agenda:
- 5 mins: Review key achievements
- 15 mins: Discuss roadblocks
- 10 mins: Align on next steps
Example Agenda:
- Achievement: Sales increased by 5% due to a successful campaign
- Roadblock: Lead generation slowed due to outdated materials
- Next Step: Update lead generation materials and create a follow-up strategy

Step 3: Use 3 Key Questions to Guide the Discussion

Action: Focus the conversation on these 3 questions:
1. What’s working?
2. What’s not?
3. What do we need to change?
Example:
- What’s working: The new email campaign boosted engagement by 20%
- What’s not: Customer feedback isn’t being gathered consistently
- Change: Automate feedback collection via a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool

Step 4: Address Issues with Immediate Action Plans

Action: Turn roadblocks into action items by assigning specific tasks with deadlines
Example:
- Roadblock: Product testing is delayed
- Action: Assign team member to fast-track testing by collaborating with external testers. Deadline: End of next week

Step 5: Encourage Ownership and Accountability

Action: Have team members report on their own progress, suggest solutions, and take responsibility for next steps
Example:
- I’ve completed 80% of my user research but need help interpreting the data
- Next Step: Assign a data analyst to assist, with the goal to complete analysis by the next check-in

Step 6: Recognize and Celebrate Wins

Action: Celebrate both small and large achievements during the meeting to boost morale
Example:
- Win: We onboarded 3 new clients this month
- Recognition: Great job, team! Let’s give a quick shout-out to the client success team for their hard work

Step 7: Document and Track Progress (After the Meeting)

Action: Summarize key takeaways, action items, and deadlines. Share with the team and track them for the next check-in
Example:
- Summary:
  - Achievement: Increased lead generation by 10%
  - Roadblock: Customer support is stretched thin
  - Action: Hire a part-time customer support representative by the next check-in

Conclusion and Action Steps

By sticking to these monthly check-ins, we stay ahead of the curve. This framework ensures clear communication, resolves issues quickly, and keeps my team aligned and motivated. It’s easy to implement and guarantees you hit your targets faster.

So, if you want your team to hit their targets and stay engaged, review my monthly check-in approach and follow these 3 simple steps:

Before the Meeting: Send out a summary of current goals and KPIs
During the Meeting: Keep discussions focused on what matters. No long explanations—just the facts and next steps
After the Meeting: Follow up with clear action items and deadlines to maintain accountability

Give it a try.

That’s all for this week.

See you next Thursday.

Performance improvement is one of 30+ topics I write about in my weekly newsletter and LinkedIn posts.

I’ll show you how to manage your team's performance, track progress, improve engagement, and hit your targets faster.

Stop struggling to keep everyone aligned and learn how to manage effectively.

If you want to learn more about how I lead teams to success and grow our impact, look out for for my newsletter every Thursday at 8:00 am, and feel free to share it with your network.