If your reviews devolve into updates and opinions, a Check-in Charter fixes it. It sets the purpose, evidence, and decisions for each review—so meetings produce outcomes, not minutes.
Why meetings fail
- Mix of status, problem-solving, and escalations in one call
- No agreed evidence → debate replaces decisions
- Owners unclear → actions die at handoffs
What is a Check-in Charter
A lightweight agreement for each recurring review that defines purpose, evidence, decisions, and owners. It turns a calendar slot into a decision engine.
What your charter covers (high-level)
- Purpose: why this check-in exists (e.g., progress vs. unblock)
- Cadence & attendees: who must be there, how often, timebox
- Evidence: 3–5 measures or signals to review (not slide dumps)
- Decisions: what can be decided in the room, what escalates
- Owner & prep: who assembles evidence; prep time limits
- Follow-through: how actions are captured and verified next time
Keep it on one page. The power is in clarity + consistency, not paperwork.
How to roll it out (5 steps)
- Pick one high-leverage review (e.g., weekly product/ops)
- Draft the charter with the lead; validate with attendees
- Pilot for 2 cycles; remove anything that bloats prep
- Add evidence gates (what must be shown to make a decision)
- Lock the rhythm—same day/time, same measures, short & sharp
Signs it’s working
- Shorter meetings, more decisions captured
- Fewer “let’s take this offline” loops
- Prep shrinks; evidence quality rises
- Teams anticipate what will be reviewed and come ready
Avoid these traps
- Turning the charter into a deck template
- Adding more metrics each week
- Mixing decision types in the same review
Where this fits
The charter sits inside your operating cadence—alongside OKRs/IKRs and role clarity—so strategy → weekly work becomes visible and actionable.