My view on 1 on 1's in the workplace

If there is something that any managers, supervisors or leaders can do for their staff, is take the time to commit to a periodic 1 on 1, with everyone they manage.

I believe conducting 1 on 1’s in the work place is an underestimated and underutilised tool. If done well, they can be the foundation of a well-oiled team that is closely aligned and feels valued day in day out.

If they are missed, each team runs the risk of simply assuming people know what they are doing right or wrong, or that they are indeed prioritising the correct projects and tasks.

To make themselves even more effective as managers, you can ensure you have a planned agenda for your 1 on 1’s, so the staff member knows what to expect and the time can be spent being productive.

Here is a simple agenda that one of my managers taught me some years ago and has stuck with me ever since:

Part 1. (Big picture stuff)…..

-         Ask the staff member how they are going

-         Allow time for them to elaborate

-         Discuss a personal growth opportunity for them (this may require some feedback that has been pre-prepared by the manager) or follow up on the previous personal development initiative being worked on…

o  Again, allow time for discussion and a plan to be made moving forward

Part 2. (The nitty gritty)

-         Address matters that they have prepared for discussion

-         Review of Results from previous period (this will vary from a week to a year depending on the work cycle)

-         Deep dive the commercial or team related specifics (where this is applicable)

-         Discuss operational matters

-         Staff/resource management/personal annual leave matters

Part 3. Admin

-         Follow up on diary notes (FYI’s, emails that you have been cc’d in…etc.)

Then be sure to allow enough time for the staff member to ask questions, and in an ideal world, offer their own feedback or list of questions/queries.

There is no silver bullet, other than the fact that doing a 1 on 1 is better than not going one. Having a structure which allows people to know what to expect is even better.

I promise that if you can start a routine, and keep to it for several months, you will start to see a cultural shift in your team. They will be engaged, talking the same language (be on the same page) and generally more in sync with you and one another.

On a final note, don’t let time be your enemy. If you can only fit in 20 minutes once a fortnight, then so be it…..simply reduce the time for each section and be sure to prioritise accordingly.

1 on 1’s are about communication, learning and most of all, ensuring your people you value their input. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to be a great manager to your people, book your 1 on 1’s in now….!