What is a 1 on 1 meeting?
Category:
careers
resume writing and advice
A 1-1 is a dedicated space on the calendar and in your mental map for open-ended and anticipated conversation between a manager and an employee. Unlike status reports or tactical meetings, the 1-1 meeting is a place for coaching, mentorship, giving context, or even venting.
Just so, what are one on one meetings?
One-on-one meetings are a forum for communication from supervisor to employee, as well as from employee to supervisor. The employee's role is to take responsibility for what they need from you as their supervisor. Your responsibility is to provide support and add value that helps the employee perform well.
- Get it on the Calendar. Make your one-on-one meetings a recurring event and make them a priority.
- Have A Plan.
- Focus on Them.
- Celebrate Wins.
- Focus on the Future, not the Past.
- Specify Desired Results.
- Focus on Strengths.
- Ask Good Questions.
Likewise, people ask, what do you talk about in a 1 on 1?
13 things to talk about in your 1-on-1s
- Report on what's going well. We fall into the trap of feeling like we only need to report on things that are a problem.
- Self-critique.
- Ask for feedback on a deliverable.
- Check in on objectives.
- Discuss long-term career goals.
- Request stuff.
- Reminders!
- Get your priorities straight.
How to prepare for a 1:1
- Have the right mindset. Don't overthink the meeting, as it's meant to be a discussion.
- Set a Recurring Schedule. In order for 1-on-1s to be effective they need to happen regularly.
- Keep it flexible.
- Listen Actively.
- Get personal.
- Be open-minded.
- Be prepared.