What is a monthly pulse check
A monthly pulse check is a short 30-minute meeting that you lead to stay aligned with your manager on goals, progress, and impact. It is your chance to guide the conversation, show progress, share wins, and ask for what you need to keep moving forward.This is not a performance review. It is a structured, focused check-in that demonstrates your ownership and leadership. By running these consistently, you build trust, show initiative, and keep your AI journey focused on delivering real business results.
Why monthly pulse check matters
Lead with clarity
You set the direction by keeping goals and priorities visible.
Show measurable progress
You demonstrate value by sharing results and stories of success.
Raise challenges early
You flag blockers before they slow things down.
Ask for support
You use this time to get what you need to succeed.
Keep momentum strong
You close with clear next steps and ownership so progress continues between sessions.
Cadence
- 30 minutes once per month
- Share your talking points or agenda at least two days before the meeting
- Always lead the session. This is your time to drive alignment and progress
Before the pulse check: Preparation checklist
Strong preparation shows leadership. Before each pulse check:- Review your data, usage, and results from the past month.
- Collect one or two examples where AI made a measurable impact.
- Note any blockers or areas where you need support.
- Update your goals or success measures if priorities have shifted.
- Share your agenda or slides two days before the meeting.
Suggested agenda
1. Purpose of the session
How to open
“Thanks for taking the time to meet. This is my regular 30-minute pulse check to make sure we are aligned on goals, review progress, and discuss any support that will help keep things moving.”Leadership cues
- Set a calm, positive, and focused tone.
- Start with rapport by sharing a short personal or team update.
- Ask, “Is there anything top of mind you would like to cover before we start?”
Phrases to use
- “I want this to be useful for both of us.”
- “Let’s make sure we are both clear on what success looks like.”
- “Here’s what I would like to cover today.”
2. Goal alignment
This section confirms that your goals still reflect what matters most to your manager and the business.How to ask
“Before we look at progress, I would like to make sure we are still focused on the right outcomes. Are these still the goals that make the biggest impact right now?” If priorities have changed: “Thanks, that helps. I will update these so next month’s pulse reflects the new focus areas.”Tips
- Share your goals visibly on screen or slide.
- Keep the discussion focused on outcomes, not tasks.
- Reconfirm success measures and what “good” looks like.
Why it matters: Goal alignment keeps your work visible, relevant, and impactful. It shows that you are steering toward business priorities, not just activity.
3. Progress review
Lead this part with confidence and clarity. Focus on insights and impact, not just numbers.How to introduce it
“Here is a quick overview of how things are going. I will highlight key metrics, a few wins, and what is driving those results.”What to include
- Webinar or training attendance (participation rate or AI fitness score)
- Daily usage (percentage of active logins)
- Agent usage (how often AI tools or agents are used)
- Feedback or sentiment from quick surveys or polls
- AI wins or success stories (specific examples of value)
- Opportunities captured (new use cases or experiments in progress)
- Trends or emerging high-value use cases
Best practices
- Lead with wins and highlights.
- Use one visual or example per key point.
- Explain what the data means.
- Link each insight back to goals and outcomes.
Example: “Daily usage rose from 62% to 75%, driven by more consistent use of our support agent. One standout win was using AI to summarise shift notes, saving 30 minutes per person daily.”
Phrases to use
- “Here’s what I have noticed in the data.”
- “The trend we are seeing here is…”
- “This is working really well because…“
4. Challenges and blockers
Great leaders share challenges early and come prepared with ideas for solutions.How to introduce it
“I want to highlight a couple of things that are slowing us down and discuss how we can solve them.”Common blockers
- Access or setup issues (permissions, tool configuration)
- Confidence or knowledge gaps
- Low engagement or momentum
- Competing priorities
- Process or ownership gaps
Best practice
- Be direct but constructive.
- Focus on one or two real blockers.
- Suggest potential solutions.
Example: “One blocker is getting everyone using an Analyst agent. My suggestion is to run a 10-minute walk through next week to remind everyone of its usefulness with a demo!
Phrases to use
- “The main thing slowing us down is…”
- “What would make this easier next time?”
- “Here’s what I would like to try to remove this blocker.”
5. Actions and next steps
You close the meeting by confirming ownership and keeping accountability clear.How to introduce it
“Before we finish, let’s confirm our next steps and who is responsible for each one.”What to capture
- Actions agreed
- Owners
- Timeframes or deadlines
- Support needed
- Next check-in date
Leadership cues
- Repeat actions out loud to ensure clarity.
- Keep each action specific and achievable.
- Send a short recap email within 24 hours.
Example: “I will prepare the short AI use case guide for the marketing team by next Thursday. Once that is done, I will share results in next month’s check-in.”
Top tips for leading a great monthly pulse check
Lead with confidence
Lead with confidence
Own the agenda and guide the discussion. You are the driver of progress.
Focus on impact, not activity
Focus on impact, not activity
Show how your work connects to outcomes that matter.
Stay consistent
Stay consistent
Hold your pulse check monthly, at the same time, with the same flow.
Be solutions-focused
Be solutions-focused
When raising challenges, always bring ideas to move forward.
End strong
End strong
Close with agreed actions, owners, and next steps to build trust and momentum.