Organizing one-to-one meetings the right way brings great value to the company and their employees. Effective planning should involve proper time scheduling, a well-thought-out agenda, and an optimal location.
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One-to-one meeting – general definition
A one-to-one meeting is a regular meeting, usually organized between a manager and a member of the team they manage, aiming to build connections and improve productivity. The same term is also used for regular meetings for mentors, coaches, and peers.
Managers can utilize this time to boost employee motivation and better understand the performance level and the possible challenges. Employees can use this opportunity, in turn, to let their managers know more about their strengths and weaknesses, readjust their work schedule for maximum productivity, get mentoring, and find ways for career promotion[1].
One-to-one meeting – what should it involve?
It will be easier for you to organize your one-to-one meeting by breaking it into six steps[2].
First, check the employee’s wellbeing, focusing particularly on their emotional state at work. Next, move to priority tasks and ask about progress.
Earmark the third part for discussing the employee’s career goals. Remember to offer your support in meeting these goals if it is possible.
Finally, let your employee share their impressions about the current condition of the company and recent progress made in the company’s operations in general.
How to prepare for a one-to-one meeting?
The best way to get ready for such a meeting is to set the right objective to receive constructive feedback from the employee.
When you are open to the other party’s input and accommodating to their time constraints, it is easier to make the meeting genuinely productive.
Inform team members about the meetings in advance, allowing them to prepare the necessary information to share with you. Keeping the meetings regular also helps to manage time properly.
Even though there has been a mention of a structured plan for your conversation, treat it as a suggestion and keep your meeting flexible.
How to keep a one-to-one meeting private?
A one-to-one meeting requires confidentiality so that the participants don’t feel constrained when discussing certain topics and instead stay open and honest with each other. That is why a one-to-one meeting should be kept private. At the same time, it is crucial to hold it in a friendly atmosphere.
While going to a restaurant might be a good solution, sometimes it’s not as convenient as the company’s premises – for organizational reasons. Yet, a meeting at the manager’s office might feel too official. Meeting in a more neutral place, such as an acoustic office pod, can be an optimal solution.
[1]https://www.betterup.com/blog/one-on-one-meeting#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%201%2Don%2D,insight%20into%20the%20employee%20experience
[2]https://www.small-improvements.com/resources/1-on-1-meetings/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%201%3A1,participants%20grow%20in%20their%20roles