Are you good at 1:1’s?

Are your 1:1s hitting the mark? Or are you even holding them at all? 😶

Regular 1:1 meetings are crucial for effective employee engagement, yet many managers find them challenging. Why is that?

Being a successful leader doesn’t exempt you from feeling introverted, awkward, or unsure of what to say. That’s perfectly normal!

The solution? Use a structured 1:1 template. It provides clear guidance for your conversations, easing the pressure on both you and your employee. 😁

Here is one example:

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗜𝗻 (5 minutes)
Start with casual conversation to build rapport and check in on their well-being.
Ask about their weekend, any personal news, or how they’re feeling. (bonus tip: share some of your own news or information)

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 (5 minutes)
Have the employee share their biggest win from the past week.
Celebrate this success - and acknowledge their hard work!

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 (5 minutes)
Review the tasks or goals set in the previous meeting.
Discuss progress, any challenges, and if adjustments are needed.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 (15 minutes)
Invite the employee to discuss any challenges or obstacles they’re facing.
Have them update you on their ongoing projects and tasks.
Focus on problem-solving: brainstorm solutions together.
Discuss any feedback or roadblocks impacting their performance.

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 (10 minutes)
Explore areas where the employee wants to grow or develop new skills.
Discuss any training, mentorship, or resources that could support their development, as well as any projects that may align with their interests.
Set specific goals or action plans for their professional growth.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 (10 minutes)
Align on what the employee should focus on in the upcoming week.
Discuss any new responsibilities or changes in workload.

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (10 minutes)
Give the mic to the employee to bring up any topics they want to discuss.
This could include feedback for you, concerns, or ideas for improvements.

𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽-𝗨𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀
Summarize key takeaways and action items.
End on a positive note and offer encouragement.

Having a solid plan for your 1:1s takes away the anxiety.

The reality is - EVERY 1:1 meeting won't always be structured as business sometimes dictates what is top of mind. However, this guide will help you set expectations for both of you to elevate their impact. If your challenge is that you have too many employees to meet with on a 1:1 basis, consider shortening the template or making them less frequent. But DO THEM!

Another tip for managing a large volume is to survey your team and ask them directly “How often would you like to meet?” You may get varying answers as some employees may need less time than others. Just the question is enough to let them know you care about their needs!

Bonus Tip: If this template doesn’t quite hit the mark, ask your team what topics they’d love to discuss. You might be amazed at the valuable insights and fresh ideas they bring to the table!

No matter what format you decide on, be consistent with your 1:1's!

No matter what.

Meaningful connection with your manager, makes all the difference.

Oh, have I told you recently that you got this? 💪