This blog started, like many good ideas, over lunch. Luisa and Lucy; two Delivery Consultants with a shared love for all things Agile got onto the topic of Team Healthchecks.

What started as a quick catch-up turned into a passionate discussion about why they matter, how to run them well, and the impact they can have when done right.

So, they decided to write it down and share their experience and insights with anyone else passionate about agile health checks, or those wanting to incorporate them into their team dynamic.

Luisa:
When people ask me what the most underrated Agile tool is, I don’t even hesitate, it’s the Team Healthcheck. It’s simple, low effort, (often overlooked) and yet, somehow, massively powerful when done right.

Lucy:
Totally agree. It’s one of those things that can feel like a tickbox exercise if you’re not intentional about it, but when you embed it into team culture, it becomes a mirror. Not just of how people feel, but what’s really going on under the surface.

Luisa:
Exactly. I’ve used Healthchecks across sectors, from Fintech to Healthcare, and it’s often the one thing that unlocks honest conversations. It creates space for psychological safety, especially when teams might not be vocal day to day about frustrations or wins.

Lucy:
And that’s the key, it’s not about whether something’s green, amber, or red. It’s about the conversations those scores open up to foster better team engagement. Running Healthchecks with open, reflective questions like, “How well do you understand the team’s goals and priorities?” or “Do you feel comfortable sharing your opinions and concerns with the team?” The real value isn’t in the score itself; it’s in exploring why someone feels that way, and what would need to change to move things forward.

Luisa:
Yes! And when you run them regularly, fortnightly or monthly, you start to see patterns. That’s when delivery leads can step in with meaningful interventions, not reactive firefighting. Plus, you’re showing the team their voice matters and that feedback leads to action.

Lucy:
We’ve also seen teams take ownership of the process. I’ve worked with squads that started suggesting their own categories to reflect what mattered most to them, like ‘value clarity’ or ‘autonomy’. That kind of co-design increases engagement tenfold.

Luisa:
And it doesn't need to be fancy. A Miro board, post-its, a quick pulse check in a retro, it all works. What matters is consistency, reflection, and follow through. If teams see you asking how they feel, but nothing changes, the trust erodes fast.

Lucy:
Spot on. A good health check should lead to action, even if that action cannot remediate - it acknowledges a shared pain point. It’s about showing up, listening, and responding.

Luisa:
So if you’re not already running Healthchecks with your team, start now. Keep it light, keep it regular, and most importantly, use it to spark real conversation. It’s not a metric, it’s a mirror. And every team deserves to be heard.

Lucy:
Couldn’t have said it better. Never underestimate the power of a simple check in.

About the authors:

Luisa Van Der End - Lead Delivery Consultant with over 12 years’ experience, starting in PMO and Scrum Master roles. Luisa’s career has taken her through Retail, FinTech, and more recently, large scale Digital Transformation in Healthcare. These days, Luisa is engaged in programmes to consult on delivery best practices - helping teams improve how they work, lead with clarity, and deliver value at pace. Luisa believes that across every sector, one thing holds true: strong delivery starts with strong principles.

Lucy Taylor - Senior Delivery Lead with 8 years’ experience delivering Digital Transformation projects across both public and private sectors. With a background in digital marketing, bringing a user-focused lens to Agile delivery. Lucy’s career spans everything from AI powered healthcare solutions to large scale financial services programmes, always with a passion for building high performing teams and creating environments where people (and products) thrive.