One-on-one meetings receive a poor rap. However, they don’t have to be onerous. They might even be perfect. This is how:
The most effective one-on-one encounters have more of a sense of a fantastic conversation than a report-out.
This entails coaching your team member while also directing the conversation.
This entails paying attention with an open mind, posing pointed inquiries, and offering thoughtful criticism when necessary.
Many managers can even monopolize the time by talking to their staff members when they need to listen more.
They may overlook important information and have chances to explore options for deeper resolutions hidden within the employees’ stories.
Tips for one-on-one meetings
A deliberate, loosely held agenda should guide the one-on-one discussion. Encourage one of your team members to take ownership of the conversation’s agenda, which should include prepared materials.
The following should be on the agenda.
- Information that can’t be found on a company dashboard or data tracker;
- Requests for the manager’s and other leadership team members’ support
- Questions the team member has regarding specific difficulties.
- The team member is interested in receiving feedback.
So that you, as the manager, may be ready with questions or conversation topics, ask your direct report to send any critical information in advance.
Team members can discuss their feelings about their roles, work responsibilities, and what it’s like to be in their positions by participating in a quick check-in at the beginning of the meeting.
Opening a meeting or session with a check-in is a deliberate team practice. Before the work dialogue begins, each member explains what (mindset) they are bringing to the table. Concentrating on finishing the task is simpler when everyone can put their personal distractions away. A mindset check-in focuses on your mental state, not the projects.
It’s crucial to keep in mind not to overthink this, however. Unless specific help is required for a particular aspect of the check-in, let it be their experience. Establishing the check-in as a safe environment and promoting increasing levels of candour are the objectives. Naturally, there can be important and obvious things to follow up on. You can always ask them if they need assistance with the stated details.
Your job as a manager is to support your direct reports as they develop their skills and work. Your duty is to teach them how to prioritize and handle problems independently, giving you more capacity. They also receive the gift of continuing to study throughout their employment.
Many workers have cited their supportive bosses as having significantly impacted their lives. When a manager listens intently and profoundly to a team member’s issues, asks questions, and provides specific feedback, they effectively coach.
Managers should take notes to keep track of developmental points. These notes can be utilized for performance management evaluations or biannual development dialogues. A manager taking notes during a one-on-one meeting demonstrates that they value the team member they are speaking with.
Tips for Post-meetings
It can be difficult to cover every topic in a one-on-one discussion with a time limit. Encourage your team and set up monthly or quarterly strategy roll-ups. As well as biannual development/career check-ins, you can address the team’s issues as a whole.
Recaps of meetings are crucial tools for tracking progress, identifying project owners, and dealing with accountability. Recaps should be succinct but should “live” in a location readily available to people who require them.
Most of us have seen or heard the adage “Employees don’t leave firms; they leave poor managers”. Management is just a relationship where people talk about how things are going at work and what needs to be changed. Over-structuring and adding extraneous decoration can take focus away from the main aim of these interactions, which are best when kept straightforward.
The best one-on-one conversations occasionally start with the straightforward question. “What is the most crucial conversation we should have today?” .The best one-on-one interactions feel like deep chats about significant work, and virtually all revolve around this principle. One-on-one meetings are meaningful and significant interactions that help a team member improve over a career and advance the company.
