Emoji Status Check
Visual mood check-ins for remote meetings
Game Overview.
Participants pick an emoji that reflects how they are arriving, then share a sentence about why they chose it. The fun visuals make it easy to talk about energy levels and needs.
Objectives
- ✓Gauge the emotional temperature of the call immediately
- ✓Normalize quick emotional check-ins for distributed teams
- ✓Give facilitators data to adjust pacing and support needs
What You'll Need
- •Video platform with chat or reactions
- •Slide or doc showing the emoji legend
- •Screenshot tool if you want to track trends over time
Preparation
- 1Select 8-10 emojis that represent different moods or energy levels
- 2Assign a short description for each emoji so everyone shares the same language
- 3Decide whether responses will be public, anonymous, or a mix
How to Play
STEP 1
Present the Legend
Share your curated emoji set and describe what each option represents.
STEP 2
Choose & React
Ask everyone to drop the emoji that matches their current mood into the chat or reaction bar.
STEP 3
Invite Shares
Spotlight two or three volunteers to give a 20-second explanation of the emoji they chose.
STEP 4
Reflect on Patterns
Note any trends-lots of sleepy faces? Pressure building? Adjust your agenda accordingly.
Pro Tips
- Model vulnerability by going first with a genuine emoji story
- Let people choose two emojis if they feel mixed emotions
- Reuse the same legend weekly so you can track changes
- Encourage camera reactions for quick nonverbal signals
Variations
Emoji Forecast
Have participants choose one emoji for now and one for how they want to feel by the end of the meeting.
Reaction Relay
Choose someone to share, then that person picks the next teammate to explain their emoji.
Async Thread
Post the emoji lineup in Slack or Teams and let people react throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if someone dislikes emoji culture?
Allow alternative responses like typing a word in chat or holding up a card on video.
How many people can share without it dragging?
Spotlighting two or three voices keeps this to five minutes. Rotate each meeting so everyone gets a turn.
Can this work in person?
Yes. Print emoji cards or use colored magnets on a whiteboard so people can walk up and place their status.
Tags
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