One-on-Ones
What Is a One-on-One?
A regular, private meeting between two individuals, usually a manager and a direct report, with a flexible format that typically includes open dialogue between both parties.
One-on-one meetings can also take place between peers or people from different teams and companies but these would typically be less frequent than those between a manager and report.
Opportunity for focused conversation on a range of work-related topics such as, personal development, career development, goals, performance, feedback for manager, feedback for direct report, concerns, challenges, updates on tasks, prioritisation and projects, bandwidth etc…
Avenue to discuss work-life balance including personal topics like interests, hobbies, family, friends, personal achievements, life changes, well-being, health, holidays, travel, pets, volunteer work etc…
Chance for managers to ensure that the direct report is engaged and happy, provide guidance, offer support and align on goals.
Essential feature of a good working relationship with a manager and an essential tool for both parties to express thoughts and concerns, ask questions, explore ways to improve performance, strengthen working relationships, while also building rapport, fostering trust, ensuring open communication, and nurturing professional growth.
Typically scheduled at regular intervals, such as weekly, biweekly or monthly.
Agenda should be owned by both parties and should be set and shared well in advance of the meeting. The details of each meeting should be documented and archived for future reference using specifically designed software or a simple shared Google document or otherwise.
Opportunity for managers to improve their leadership by providing a space to identify issues with their management style early, resolve problems and implement changes safely.
One-on-ones are probably one of the most important aspects of management to get right. Kevin Sheridan says in his article "The Top 3 Reasons Employees Quit", that one of the top three reasons why employees quit is due to their "relationship with their supervisor" and in particular because their supervisor does "not regularly meet with their direct reports to discuss career development, learning, and promotion opportunities." In fact, 17% of those surveyed gave this reason for their resignation.
Agenda Items
1. All About You (15 mins)
An open dialogue to discuss your agenda items and check-in to see how you’re doing from both a personal and work related point of view.
Topics or concerns important to you.
Questions, advice, discussion on anything not covered.
Well-being and morale check-in.
Discuss work-life balance and personal circumstances if suitable.
Offer support.
Open dialogue.
2. Recap & Progress Update (10 mins)
A quick recap of action items from our last one-on-one as well as a high level progress update on current tasks and projects. This is not the place to get in depth about any task or project but more an opportunity to discuss workload and gain clarity on prioritisation, if required. This is also a chance to discuss extra support and resources for tasks and projects, again if required.
Recap and runthrough of action points from last check-in.
Status review of ongoing tasks or projects.
Highlight challenges and roadblocks.
Celebrate successes and achievements.
Review of current workload.
Help with task prioritisation and time management.
Address any concerns regarding workload balance, capacity and bandwidth.
Discuss additional support, resources, or tools required.
Identify barriers to efficiency and brainstorm solutions.
3. Company Updates & Alignment (10 mins)
Bringing you up to speed on company news, team news and anything else you need to be aware of that’s happening within either. I promise to always be transparent and if asked something that I’m not allowed to divulge then I’ll tell you that rather than give you a politically correct answer. I also promise to never purposefully mislead you for the good of the company.
General company news and organisational updates.
Recent or upcoming changes within the company or team.
Feedback on these changes.
Clarity on any concerns or news.
Recap of company goals, project roadmap, business objectives and team goals.
Set or revisit individual short-term and long-term goals.
Ensure alignment with team and company objectives.
Discuss progress towards meeting personal and professional development goals.
4. Career Development (10 mins)
I care deeply about people and especially those people close to me like family and people on a team I’m part of. I’ve helped numerous people grow to their full potential and while meeting the business objectives and delivering impact is my first priority, you being the best version of yourself is a very close second. If you want the CEOs job or mine then we’ll break down the steps required to get there and I’ll do everything in my power to help you. Or, if you’re fulfilled and happy already then I’ll do my best to make sure that continues.
Discuss career aspirations and professional development.
Identify opportunities for skill development, training, or new projects.
Plan for future career paths within the company.
5. Feedback & Suggestions (10 mins)
An opportunity to discuss feedback and performance as well as team and workplace dynamics. So that’s feedback for you, feedback from you about my performance as a manager for me, feedback from you on the company, on the team, on process, and on anything really.
I prefer getting manager feedback in our one-to-ones, unless there’s something which needs to be addressed urgently i.e. if I’m about to make a mistake and it’s time sensitive. I’ll give feedback however you want me to give feedback. By default, I’ll address time sensitive feedback in the moment as much as I can and discuss other feedback in our one-to-ones.
Regarding giving me feedback as a manager, I would much rather you be upfront with me than be afraid to tell me something that you are thinking or rather than tell someone else. The fair thing to do is to give someone feedback and give them a chance to improve.
We can’t improve without feedback and I am dedicated to being the best manager you’ve ever had. The best feedback occurs when you care deeply about the person you’re giving the feedback to, when you want them to succeed for their benefit, for the benefit of the team and in turn for the benefit of the company. So you need to care personally about the person, the team and the company in order to be candid. Otherwise you’re just a criticising wanker!
Oh and if I have something stuck in my teeth or crumbs in my beard, please tell me!
Constructive feedback on performance.
Praise for good work and discuss areas for improvement.
Feedback on the manager performance and management style.
Team and workplace dynamics.
Relationships with colleagues and team dynamics.
Address conflicts or communication issues within the team.
Discuss overall team environment and culture.
6. Summary & Action Items (5 mins)
A roundup of the meeting, recap on key points and creation and agreement on a list of action items.
Recap on key points.
Create and agree on a list of action items.
Example Questions
Here's a list of even more questions.
FAQs
Is it okay to discuss tasks, prioritisation and projects?
Contrary to popular belief, it is perfectly acceptable to discuss current tasks and prioritisation in one-on-one meetings. However, it is essential to keep these discussions balanced with other topics to maintain a productive and engaging conversation. If specific tasks or projects require in-depth discussion, consider setting up dedicated meetings outside of one-on-ones.
How often should one-on-one meetings occur?
The frequency of one-on-one check-ins with a manager can vary greatly depending on the individual needs of employees, the nature of the work, and the culture of the organisation. A common recommendation is to have these meetings weekly, as this allows for regular communication and timely feedback. However, some organisations opt for biweekly (fortnightly) or monthly check-ins, particularly if the nature of the work does not require constant updates or if the manager has a larger team. In some cases, especially in less hands-on work environments or where employees are more autonomous, one-on-one check-ins may only occur a few times a year. Ultimately, the ideal frequency should be tailored to what best supports both the employee’s development and the organisation’s goals.
What are the meetings called?
You've probably asked yourself this question more than once, and it's a safe bet you've seen more than one of the many ways to name this meeting: one-on-one, 1 on 1, 1-on-1, 1-1, 1:1, one to one, 1 to 1, 121, check-ins and more. There are two standard names for this meeting. Typically, in American English, it is called a one-on-one meeting and in British English, it is called a one-to-one meeting. The choice between the two is entirely up to you, as people generally understand both terms.
However, the correct way to write both names is with hyphens: one-on-one or one-to-one. The plural forms are one-on-ones and one-to-ones, with no apostrophe. In title case, they should be written as One-on-One Meeting or One-to-One Meeting.
Should feedback be given in one-on-one meetings?
Many articles and books argue against giving feedback in one-on-one meetings, but the answer is more nuanced. A better response might be 'It depends.' The appropriateness of providing feedback in a one-on-one setting depends on the nature of the feedback, the relationship, and the context. While some feedback is best delivered in real-time or in a group setting, other types may be more effectively communicated in private during a one-on-one meeting. For example, feedback related to constructive criticism or performance issues, sensitive personal feedback, career development and progression, emotional or behavioural concerns, and positive but personalised feedback is often better handled privately.
Further Reading & Resources
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