The 1-on-1 Is Critical To Your Team’s Success

The 1-on-1 meeting is ubiquitous at many startups. There’s a good reason to prioritize them on your calendar, despite the best attempts to mitigate having too many meetings. This type of meeting is the best way for you (as a manager) and those who report to you to connect on pressing issues, develop a strong relationship, and ensure that they feel like they’re working toward their professional and personal goals.

Without a proper framework, agenda, and mindset, however, the 1-on-1 meeting can become just another meeting in your day. Here’s a great tactical game plan for making the 1-on-1 meeting your most important meeting, whether you’re a manager or individual contributor.

1-on-1s are a time to make sure you and your team are aligned. Regular check-ins stop larger issues from festering, allow for immediate and regular feedback and promote open communication. As managers, our schedules are often inundated with meetings so it can be difficult to find a dedicated time and space for the 1-on-1.

To ensure you stick to a schedule, set aside 10 to 15 minutes on a weekly or bi-weekly basis with each of your team members. Even in the midst of the current COVID pandemic, don’t feel confined to Zoom or Google Meetings. I would still highly suggest getting out of the house and meeting up for a walk or grabbing a coffee.

Some managers I know (or have reported to in the past) have preferred to have a day dedicated to 1-on-1s while others spread out their meetings throughout the workweek. A benefit of having meetings on the same day is setting yourself up to find linkages between what is going on with your team. Figure out which works best for you and build out your schedule to give back the most to your team.

Regardless of your management style, there are endless benefits to the continuous and honest feedback given in a 1-on-1 meeting. Bringing out the best in your employees, eliminating unnecessary tension, improving workflow, pulsing your team’s engagement level and making your employees feel valued are just a few reasons to find the time on your calendar for your next 1-on-1 if you’re in a leadership role. As an individual team member, the 1-on-1 serves as a place to share open and honest feedback with a manager to build your dream career.