A 1:1 is a regularly scheduled time slot for two people in an organisation to speak with each other one-to-one on issues of common interest. They are most commonly scheduled between a manager and a subordinate, but 1:1’s are also common between peers, stakeholders, mentors and mentees or any two people who need to regularly meet for functional or business alignment.
1:1’s are incredibly effective in building strong work relationships, building alignment and driving to mutually beneficial outcomes, in learning and in mentoring, coaching and learning as well as in providing and receiving support.
The key to effective 1:1’s are consistency and structure. The following posts explain these areas in further detail:
Aug. 16, 2021
1:1’s are most effective when they are structured conversations with a clear discussion agenda. While there is space in a 1:1 for open ended discussions, a 1:1 with a clear agenda provides significantly higher probability for productive outcomes.
Common areas covered in a 1:1 include progress updates, people management discussion items, strategic items and even personal updates. 1:1’s can provide a space to build relationships so it is good to reserve some time to connect at a deeper level.
Aug. 16, 2021
Setting up a 1:1 While adhoc 1:1’s have their place, a scheduled and regular cadence for a 1:1 is highly recommended for consistency. A calendar invite should be sent out to the parties concerned and it should have a link to a shared and private agenda document.
1:1 Agenda Document A shared and private 1:1 agenda document between the two parties is an effective mechanism to line up discussion items and action items resulting from the discussion.
Aug. 16, 2021
Setting A 1:1 is frequently held in isolated or private meeting rooms in the office primarily because it typically happens to be the most convenient location for work conversations. However, 1:1’s don’t only need to be conducted in meeting rooms. Some people prefer to conduct them at a cafe over tea or coffee. Some even prefer to have a “walking 1:1”, to break the monotony of being seated all day long.
Aug. 16, 2021
My manager frequently skips my 1:1’s. What should I do? The most common reason for managers to skip 1:1’s is that they are just too busy and are unable to manage their time effectively.
If there is a consistent pattern of 1:1’s being skipped, it is prudent to speak directly to the manager and emphasize to hold to a consistent 1:1. If the manager is still unable to make the 1:1’s, progressive escalation to the manager’s manager is not uncommon.
Aug. 16, 2021
When considering the effectiveness of 1:1’s, it is hard to overstate the importance of consistency. The most effective managers are those who are most diligent about their 1:1’s, and the strongest work relationships in an organisation are between those who meet regularly to sync and align.
For managers, being fanatical about 1:1’s will result in the formation of very successful teams and growth of future leaders. For other work relationships, investing in regular 1:1’s will result in excellent job performance and great peer reviews.