Check-ins are killing your calendar. In this episode, Erik breaks down why endless reminders are actually a symptom of low confidence and poor expectation-setting—and he teaches a simple leadership “play” that flips the script. Instead of you chasing progress updates, your team will push you the information you need—freeing up your time, building accountability, and strengthening trust.
❓ The Big Question
What if you could eliminate 80% of your check-ins and still have full confidence that the work is getting done?
💡 Key Takeaways
- Most check-ins are rooted in lack of confidence—either yours or theirs.
- Telling someone what to do creates dependence; having them tell you creates accountability.
- Check-ins aren’t about progress—they’re about reassurance.
- The right system flips responsibility back onto the person doing the work.
- When leaders stop chasing updates, they reclaim time and build trust.
🧠 Concepts, Curves, and Frameworks
- Confidence vs. Check-Ins → Your need to check in is usually a sign of shaky confidence.
- Expectation-Setting Game → Don’t tell; ask them to articulate their plan and timeline.
- Push vs. Pull Communication → Move from chasing updates (pull) to receiving them automatically (push).
- Calendar Hack → Put the expectation in their calendar—and yours—as a self-triggered accountability system.
🔁 Real-Life Reflections
- The “reminder monster” in your calendar probably has a name—what if you flipped that relationship?
- This approach has been tested with thousands of leaders and eliminates ~80% of check-ins.
- When people state their own commitments and log them, they are psychologically more likely to follow through.
🧰 Put This Into Practice
- Identify one person who dominates your check-in calendar.
- Next time, don’t set a check-in—have them set the reminder in both of your calendars.
- Ask: What progress should you expect to have made by then?
- Have them block time in their calendar with the title: “[Name] to update [Leader] on [specific milestone].”
- Watch as updates come to you—without you ever having to chase.
🗣️ Favorite Quotes
“Confidence and the check-in are two sides of the same coin.”
“The game isn’t telling them what to do—it’s getting them to tell you.”
“Stop pulling for updates. Build a system where they push you the information.”
“This one hack eliminates about 80% of reminders and check-ins.”
“Everybody wins when you run this play: you gain time, they gain trust, and the work gets done.”
