One on Ones

The most important meeting: one-on-one catch-ups with your directs and skips

The What

The regular one-on-one meetings with your direct reports

The How

Set up a weekly catch up

• Weekly is the best, fortnightly is the absolute minimum

• Set up repeated events in calendars

• Don’t cancel it

• Make it private - meeting room, walk in a garden, zoom if both WFH

Slow cook discussion points

• Have a delegated note per person

• Write down notes as the week progresses

• Get updates - management, key projects, blockers, observations, etc

• Take notes and assign actions

Be positive

• Share wins

• Share context

• Encourage improvement

• Use Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) for feedback

Be a listener

• Ask leading questions

• Dig their mind

Talk about performance

• It is a MUST if you want a high-performance team

• Set up a clear expectation

• Make it outcome-driven (we are paid for delivery outcomes)

✅ Exceptions

No exception - one on one is a must

🔴 Red Flags

• Don’t cancel at the last minute

• Don’t be late

• Don’t macro manage your DRs

📜 Tips

• Face-to-face is the best

• Walking in a garden is even better

🕳️ Pitfalls

• Just work updates

• Micro management