How often have you been in a meeting when, after a quick icebreaker (if there was “time for one), the presenter ran through a deck of new information and sent the team on its way without pausing for anyone to take a breath? I have left meetings like this feeling overwhelmed and often unclear of my own next steps, much less how to communicate the information to the rest of my team.
In our fast-paced workplaces, we must all tune in to take in new information, and many of us are responsible for quickly turning around that information to share with teammates. However, so often the focus is on getting the next thing done, rather than ensuring that all team members understand the new information and expectations on how to implement it. To make a shift, let’s turn to education.
In the classroom, most teachers build in “checks for understanding” throughout their lessons to collect quick data snapshots around which students comprehend the key takeaways, who is struggling, and why. These moments ensure that learning is taking place and support the teacher in making decisions about what to do next instructionally (e.g. which concepts do they need to reteach and to whom, how can they present the information in a different way to support learners, and which students are ready for more of a challenge). We can all learn from this practice. Whether we are teaching young people or facilitating a meeting for adults, checking for understanding can be done quickly and will lead to more impactful outcomes, while guiding our work for the future.
Here are a few ways to check for understanding, regardless of your audience:
Fist to Five. Ask the group how they feel about new information by a show of hands.
Holding up 0 (fist) or 1 finger = not super confident.
Holding up all 5 fingers = I’ve got this!
Skim the room to see if most people are in the 3-5 range. If not, pause for clarifying questions.
Thumbs up/ side/ down. Similar to “Fist to Five.”
Ask the group how they feel about new information by giving a thumbs up / thumb to the side / or thumbs down.
Scan the group to see where people are and follow up as needed.
Mentimeter. When you want to integrate technology, use a free, easy tool like this!
Mentimeter is one way to nab feedback and create a safe space for team members to ask questions anonymously.
As a presenter, you can prepopulate questions before the meeting and share a code with participants at various points to check for understanding.
Participants can use Mentimeter on any device for virtual, hybrid, or in-person meetings.
As the results come in, you can share and respond to feedback in real-time.
Ask open ended questions.
Instead of asking the group “Do you have any questions” at a pause point, ask instead: “What questions do you have?” Framing matters!
If the end goal is retaining information, we can’t blindly assume it will just happen. Embedding a check for understanding moment into an upcoming meeting agenda or presentation will build stronger team chemistry, clarify outcomes, and give you valuable information as the leader. The cost is low (less than a minute for most named above) and the gains are high. Try it out, and let us know your favorite CFUs!