Optimize the One-On-One

Optimize the One-On-One

Insight from Harvard Business Review

We’re all guilty of it:

The awkward, 15-minute one-on-one that accomplishes… relatively nothing 👎

Something along the lines of:

1. “How’s your week going?”

2. “Anything I can unblock?”

3. Let me know if I can help out with anything else!

Both parties walk away thinking, “Welp, that could have been a Slack message.”

Now, if that sounds familiar (and it probably does), we’re here to help. Here are a few guiding frameworks that will level-up that weekly sync:

• Connect beforehand on an agenda: Take the time (even if it’s 5-10 minutes) to sketch out and send over an agenda for the topics you want to cover. This exercise forces us to give some thought to the conversation rather than winging it. Ask them to add items/sub-items as well, and watch how much more productive the conversation becomes.

• Make time to talk about career development: Where does your report want to be next year? Do they know what they need to accomplish to achieve a promotion or more responsibility? It’s easy for these meetings to index toward the reactionary. Show your report that you care about their career progression.

• DON’T CANCEL: This one is tough for busy operators, but it’s probably the most important in building a great team culture. Last minute cancellations/postponements tell your team that their one weekly opportunity to connect with you is less important than whatever else you’re dealing with. Treat that scheduled time as sacred. Be flexible with their circumstances, but inflexible with your own. Leadership, baby😎

Learn more: More secret sauce for effective 1:1 meetings