The Peer Catch-up is an opportunity for team members to maintain a cadence of catching up and reflecting on their respective engagement, connection, and contribution.
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This tool can be used to have a structured conversation that provides data for insight into the health of the people network. It adds to the cultural/people data available to help in the forming and execution of strategy to build and maintain culture and drive organisational performance. A Peer Catch-up is helpful for any team members to improve their working relationship. Any two peers could use the tool, regardless of whether they work closely together or not. The benefits are:
- It enables effective two-way feedback
- Data can be helpful for individuals and the leadership team as an insight into the health of their culture.
- Issues can be dealt with before they fester or grow big enough to warrant someone bringing it up
- Maintaining a regular practice helps build feedback skills
- If practised, even when things are “all good”, it will make it easier to address challenges when they do arise
- Over time it can build communication skills, improve trust and psychological safety among team members and enhance working relationships
- It gives an opportunity for team members to share ideas and can foster an environment of innovation
A Peer Catch-up can be used in multiple ways - to assist with helping new employees settle into an organisation; for performance support; to initiate a high-integrity exit; or simply to build social capital. It is not a replacement for fast, timely, ad-hoc feedback; one-on-one meetings between a team leader and a team member or team meetings. It is not recommended to use it when trust and psychological safety is low or unknown. Giving everyone licence to give feedback to anyone in this sort of environment can have negative consequences.
NOTE: Like any structured framework for what is essentially a conversation, things can sometimes feel awkward. However, experience has shown perseverance with the process can make it feel more normal over time, especially as people become more familiar with the tool and practised at giving feedback and sharing their thoughts. Using the tool regularly, even when things are all good, can help to develop the muscle memory and skills for when things get tough. The tool can be very helpful to have the harder conversations.
Here are some tips on preparing for Peer Catch-ups.
Employee Engagement Survey