Have you ever been asked, at the start of a meeting, about your internal weather forecast? This brief welcoming ritual, when implemented, can take various forms depending on the circumstances—whether in person or remotely: moving around the room, posting an emoji in the chat, drawing, and more. It can go by different names too: forecast, check-in, icebreaker…
In this article, we’ll explore what this ritual entails and its benefits.
A welcoming ritual is a brief period, typically a few minutes at the start of a session, either face-to-face or virtual, dedicated to welcoming participants and inviting them to share their current emotional state. This is especially valuable for remote meetings, where regular face-to-face interactions are lacking, making it harder to gauge colleagues’ mindsets.
In person, you might use sticky notes to draw a sun, a cloud, and a storm, and ask participants to stand next to the drawing that represents their current mood. Virtually, participants can post an emoji, gif, or word in the chat. You could also use visual aids like the humor tree.
Participants are then invited to briefly explain their choice, though this is optional. The goal is not to make anyone uncomfortable, particularly if they’ve chosen to share a negative mood.
Participants may come from another meeting or be immersed in other tasks. This ritual provides a moment to pause, reconnect with their emotions, and refocus on the meeting’s topic.
How often have you been in a meeting where someone seemed particularly moody or even aggressive? Allowing participants to express their feelings at the start has two benefits. First, the act of sharing can help a person release some of their negative emotions, making them feel heard and supported, and enabling them to focus better on the meeting. For others, knowing a participant’s mood isn’t directed at them or related to the meeting helps in managing their reactions, fostering tolerance and understanding.
When participants feel welcomed, listened to, and supported, it contributes to creating a safe space where everyone can speak openly.
Though it might seem trivial and is often overlooked, taking a few minutes for a welcoming ritual is highly beneficial. Some teams I’ve worked with have adopted this practice for all their meetings, with different team members taking turns to lead it. It’s an opportunity to be creative and a reminder that we are all human beings, not just coworkers. This ritual helps participants transition from previous tasks, share their current state of mind, and fosters a transparent and focused environment, leading to more efficient and enjoyable meetings.
