Mood Barometer Template
Find out how your team is feeling at the start or end of a meeting. Everyone places a marker on the barometer, and in seconds you see the mood of the whole group.
Free to start · Swiss-made · GDPR compliant
Checking the team's mood with a mood barometer
The Collaboard template has a short instruction box at the top, a participant parking lot with twelve colored dots and name fields, and a scale with five color-coded levels, from Full of Energy to Need Support. Each level has a short description, so everyone knows what it means.
Explain the scale
Briefly go through the five levels and make clear that every answer is fine.
Pick a dot
Everyone chooses a dot in the parking lot and adds their name underneath.
Place your dot
Everyone moves their dot onto the level that best matches how they feel today.
Look at the picture
Take a moment to look at the overall mood, without commenting on individual dots.
Offer a word
Invite anyone who wants to add a sentence about their dot, but don't make it mandatory.
Adapt the session
Adjust the plan if needed, for example with an extra break or more orientation at the start.
What is a mood barometer?
A mood barometer is a quick check-in that shows how a group is feeling at the start or end of a session. Each person places a dot on a scale, so the facilitator can see at a glance whether the group is ready to go or needs some time to settle in.
The five levels of the template
- Full of energy Motivated, focused and ready to get started.
- Feeling good Balanced and able to follow along easily.
- Okay or neutral Present, but might need a little more guidance and orientation.
- Stressed A lot going on right now, or the mind isn't fully focused.
- Need support Needs some support, clarity or a moment to settle in.
For a check-out with more detailed feedback, use the feedback tree.
Check-ins, check-outs and other uses for a mood barometer
- Meeting check-ins See how the group arrives before you start.
- Workshop check-outs Find out how participants leave the session.
- Team health over time Repeat the barometer regularly and notice changes early.
- Remote teams Get a feel for the mood when you can't see faces in the room.
Reading the mood without putting anyone on the spot
- Keep it voluntary Nobody has to explain their dot. The picture alone is useful.
- React to what you see If many dots sit at Stressed or Need Support, take it seriously and adapt the session.
- Repeat at the end Run the barometer again at the end to see how the mood has changed.
- Leave names off if needed In sensitive situations, dots without names make honest answers easier.
Why Collaboard
A Swiss-made online whiteboard for teams that care where their data lives.
Your data stays in Europe
Choose hosting in Switzerland, Germany or the EU, fully GDPR compliant. Or run Collaboard on your own servers.
Invite anyone with a link
Guests join your board for free, right in the browser. Nothing to install, no extra licenses for participants.
Made in Switzerland, with real support
Collaboard is developed in Switzerland. When you need help, you talk to people who know the product.
Frequently asked questions
Is the mood barometer template free?
Yes, the mood barometer template is free to use with a Collaboard account. The free plan includes up to 3 boards and five people per session.
What do the levels of the mood barometer mean?
The mood barometer in Collaboard has five levels: full of energy, feeling good, okay or neutral, stressed and need support. Each level has a short description on the board, so everyone knows what it means.
Can participants stay anonymous on the mood barometer?
Yes, on the mood barometer participants can place markers without their names, which works well for sensitive topics.
How long does a mood barometer check-in take?
A mood barometer check-in usually takes five to ten minutes, depending on how much you discuss the result.
Can I change the scale of the mood barometer?
Yes, the scale, the symbols and the question of the mood barometer template can be adapted to fit your team.
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