The 3 Check-Ins Every Leader Should Do Each Month

Leadership is not a title — it’s a rhythm.A rhythm of action and reflection. Movement and pause. Intent and impact.

Over the years, I’ve found that high-performing leaders often get pulled into a vortex of tasks, meetings, and decisions — so much so that they forget to check in… with themselves.

When that happens, clarity blurs. Priorities stretch thin. And often, we only notice something is off when things start to break.

That’s why I recommend a simple practice I call the Monthly 3 Check-In Framework. It takes no more than 30–45 minutes — but it can recalibrate your leadership, your energy, and your direction.

1. 🧭 The Inner Check-In: Where am I, really?

This is where you ask:

• How do I feel — mentally, physically, emotionally?

• Am I operating from clarity or just momentum?

• What’s occupying most of my mental space right now?

This check-in isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness.Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is admit, “I’m tired,” or “I’m overloaded,” or “I’m on autopilot.”Because you can’t manage what you don’t notice.

A few prompts I use:

What’s energizing me lately?What’s draining me more than it should?What have I been avoiding that might need attention?

2. 🤝 The Relationship Check-In: Who needs more of me right now?

Leadership isn’t solo — it’s relational. But in the rush of deliverables, people can easily become placeholders.

This check-in is a chance to zoom out:

• Which relationships (team, peers, stakeholders, family) need care or reconnection?

• Am I showing up the way I want to — as a listener, coach, partner?

• Is there unspoken tension somewhere I’ve been too busy to notice?

Sometimes, all it takes is a short note, a voice message, or a walk-and-talk to repair or re-energize a key connection.

A question I often ask:

Who has helped carry the load recently — and have I acknowledged them meaningfully?

3. 🧭 The Direction Check-In: Am I moving towards what matters?

This is about alignment over activity.

• Are my current actions aligned with my longer-term goals?

• What’s crept in that doesn’t belong?

• What am I postponing that actually matters?

It’s easy to confuse movement with momentum. But leadership impact isn’t measured in hours worked — it’s measured in intention followed by meaningful action.

Try this:

Write down your top 3 priorities for the next 30 days.Then compare that list with where your time and energy went last month.If they don’t match, something needs rebalancing.

🧘🏽‍♂️ Why This Matters

Leadership requires output — but also internal navigation.These three check-ins act like a monthly compass:

• Inner clarity

• Relational depth

• Strategic alignment

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They don’t take long — but they give you back something invaluable: control over how you lead, not just what you deliver.

So here’s my gentle challenge:Block 45 minutes in your calendar this month.Take a quiet space.And run through these three check-ins.

You might be surprised by what comes up — and what clears up.