Hold effective 1:1 meetings

Introduction

In our research on effective managers, we’ve found that our higher-scoring managers are more likely than lower-scoring managers to have frequent 1:1 (“one-on-one”) meetings with their team members. Meeting frequently and individually with team members can require a large time investment, but can identify issues early and provides a forum for the manager to give feedback and guidance. The team asked our best managers how they hold effective 1:1 meetings. Here’s a collection of some of those tips:

Set up a regular meeting

Choose a consistent time, generally lasting 30-60 minutes, every week or two.

If you're lucky enough to be able to meet in person, always look for a conference room or private space to preserve confidentiality.

Determine the agenda of the meeting

Set up a shared agenda document to help structure your discussion time. Both the manager and team member should contribute.

Here are some agenda items to get you started:

• "What have you been up to?"
• "What can I help you with?"
• Roadblocks or issues
• Goal updates
• Administrative topics (e.g., upcoming vacations, expense reports)
• Next steps to confirm actions and agreements
• Career development and coaching

Meet for the 1:1

• Be on time.
• Stick to the agenda, whenever possible.
• Give the meeting your full attention.
• Ask for feedback: “Is there anything I should be doing for you that I am not doing?” or “Anything I should be doing better or more often?"
• Review action items and things to discuss in the next 1:1.
• Ask "What else?" (It's surprising to see what can come up as an afterthought!)

Here are more helpful coaching tips from Mekka Okereke, General Manager of Google Play apps, who speaks to the importance of undivided attention and reflection in 1:1 conversations.

Learn more about coaching and feedback with our People Management Essentials videos on YouTube.