One on One Meetings: The Only Guide Managers Need [Free Template]

by Jason Evanish, CEO Get Lighthouse, Inc.

One on one meetings, 1:1s, 1 2 1s, one on ones, or 1 on 1s. Whatever you call them, they're one of the most powerful tools you have as a manager.

Many managers have one on one meetings with their teams, but too often, they waste them. Status updates, awkward silences, and frequent cancellations are just a few of the symptoms of ineffective one on ones.

Why does this happen?

It usually comes down to your fundamentals, something a good template can help solve.

A lack of a good one on one meeting template, or structure, prevents many managers from making the most of their one on one meetings.

Without taking the right steps before, during, and after each meeting, it's easy to feel like you're not getting enough value from your one on ones. 

one on one meetings: template

Learn how the best leaders run their one on one meetings

Many of the best leaders in business swear by one on one meetings:

  • Ben Horowitz considers one on ones so important, he was willing to fire a senior leader for not having regular one on one meetings, which he detailed in his book, The Hard Thing About Hard Things.
  • Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel, devotes an entire section in his classic leadership book, High Output Management, to 1 on 1s.
  • Serial entrepreneur, SaaStr founder, and investor Jason Lemkin says one on ones are the "#1 management hack”: "There isn't a better investment you can make in your VPs than meeting either once a week, or at least, once every 2 weeks.” 

These and other leaders are passionate about one on ones because of the value they get from them. And you get that value by following a set structure or template that helps you make the most of each meeting.

Below, we break down the ultimate template for one on one meetings with employees, the secret weapon of great leaders who have motivated and engaged teams.

This template can help you whether you're just starting out, or looking to tune up your meetings if you're a seasoned leader.

Download the 1-on-1 do's and don'ts checklist

Before continuing, download a copy of our 1-on-1 do's and don'ts checklist, the perfect template companion for making sure each of your 1-on-1s is high impact by doing the right things and avoiding costly mistakes.

Tips for awesome one on one meetings
Want your free checklist of Do's and Don'ts based on the advice in this post? Enter your email address below and we'll send it to you:

Whether you're new to 1-on-1s or you're a seasoned pro, this checklist is designed to help you keep each meeting focused on what matters.

Table of Contents

How to use this one on one meeting template: Whether you're a veteran, or it's your first one on one with an employee, there's something for everyone. 

Jump to whatever section you're interested in or need help with by clicking the table of contents links below. 

Add some of these approaches to your one on one meetings and see how they work for you. Be sure to also check out the links throughout this guide for further reading to learn more about the research and leaders behind these tactics.

Part 1: The benefit of one on one meetings (Or: Why 1 on 1s matter)

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of good one on ones, it's worth digging into the benefit of one on ones.

It's unfortunately rare for people to have good 1 on 1s regularly, so let's talk about what that value really is when they're done well.

Armed with this information, we may convince not only you, but help you convince your colleagues or boss who are skeptical of these meetings.

One on one meetings are crucial for the quality of your suborinate's work, according to Andy Grove

1) The real value of one on ones for managers

One on ones are the single most valuable tool managers have in their tool belt to fix all kinds of problems and gain invaluable insights. However, if you've never had a great one on one, you may be pretty skeptical about starting them with your team.

Following our one on one meeting template (download here) can help change that so you have effective one on ones, too. When you do them the best way, you can experience all of these benefits:

Over and over since we started Lighthouse over 7 years ago, we've seen managers learn quickly just how much of an impact these meetings can have for them. It takes less time than you think and saves you a lot of headaches later (like hiring a replacement).

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One on one meetings make ideas flow up, says Ben Horowitz

2) The value of one on ones to organizations

One on one meetings are valuable to organizations in addition to individual leaders. With the right approaches, common goals of companies as a whole can be accomplished through quality 1 on 1s. Here are 5 great examples:

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Open door policy fails when it comes to one on one meetings, according to Ed Catmull

3) Problems one on one meetings help you overcome

One on ones are surprisingly versatile. With the right approaches, they can act as a Swiss army knife for a variety of challenges leaders of all types face, including these:

  • A failed open-door policy: You may think because "my door is always open" that you'll hear everything you need to from your team, but that rarely works. Ed Catmull of Pixar (pictured above) learned this the hard way. Your team may be afraid you're busy, doesn't see you in there often due to meetings, or can't even see your door (because they're elsewhere or remote). One on one meetings ensure you have a clear path to understanding problems, needs, and the pulse of your team.
  • Disconnect with remote staff: When your team isn't in the same office as you, management is even harder; you miss out on many opportunities for ad hoc conversations. Whether you're dealing with a partially remote or fully remote team, one on ones are essential to having key conversations and fixing problems.
  • Turn around underperformers: Turning around people checked out or underperforming takes work. They do not magically get better. One on ones are a great way to roll up your sleeves and make sure you give them the attention needed to improve their performance or manage them out of the organization with proof to HR you really tried.
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Part 2: The Ultimate One on One Meeting Template

By following the structure and tips we're about to talk about, you can make the most of your one on one meetings with your team.

Whether you're starting them for the first time, starting over after having given up on them, or looking to improve the one on one meetings you have, this template can help you improve the quality and outcomes of your meetings.

One on one meetings shouldn't be a 'one size fits all', says Linda Zecher

Step 1 - Prepare: How to plan your 1 on 1s

The first step in the one on one meeting template the best leaders use begins before the meeting even happens; it's all about planning for success.

To be successful, there are a handful of key things you should do when planning your one on one meetings. Any of these can trip you up, so take a moment to think about what works best for your situation:

1) Choose the right frequency for each person on your team.

Everyone on your team needs and deserves to have a one on one meeting with the person they report to. This includes new staff, veteran staff, managers, and interns. The topics you discuss may change, but setting aside time for each team member is crucial.

While in an ideal world, you would meet weekly or biweekly with everyone on your team, travel, team size, and other demands on your schedule can make that difficult. So instead of a one-size-fits-none approach, use these as guideposts to determine how often to meet with each person in your 1-on-1s:

  • Size of your team: If you manage more than 5 people, it can be hard to have one on one meetings with everyone, every week. The larger your team, the less frequently you may be able to meet, but realize there will be more ground to cover each time, so budget accordingly (i.e.- schedule an hour).
  • Their Task Relevant Maturity: This is the most important factor. If someone is new in a role or has a new responsibility, they need more help, coaching, and guidance. Make time to meet with those on your team that are newly hired, recently promoted, or placed in a new role, every week or two ideally, even if everyone else has monthly one on one meetings. Change the frequency for each person as their roles and comfort-levels change.
  • Your Task Relevant Maturity: If you have never done a role that is now reporting to you, you need to be more hands-on, too. This gives you a chance to better understand what they do, drivers for success, and get comfortable with their work. In this case, in particular, you should bring a lot of questions to the meetings so they can teach you a few things.
  • Your Schedule: If you travel a lot, are in tons of other meetings, or have other responsibilities making scheduling hard, look to meet for longer periods of time when you do meet. You should, at a minimum, be meeting with everyone once a month (once a quarter is pointless). Otherwise, you may get blindsided by a departure or a problem that grew too big.
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one on one meetings template - andy grove knows time matters

2) Get the logistics right: meeting length, location, scheduling.

Once you settle on how often to meet initially with each person on your team, you need to get the logistics in order. Here are a few tips to get those right:

  • Meeting Length: 1 hour. These meetings are more than a "quick check-in." If you really want to get the full value out of one on one meetings you need time to dig into topics. This is why Andy Grove, former CEO & co-founder of Intel, wrote the quote above about zingers. Set aside an hour. You can always end early, which is much easier than trying to stay when you have another meeting you're getting notifications for drawing your attention.
  • Reschedule. Don't cancel. It can be tempting to cancel for a number of reasons, but that does more harm than good. Your team member may say canceling is okay, but that's more of a power dynamic than them not having something to talk about. Show your team you value the time by rescheduling to a new time soon.
  • Go somewhere private. They're called one on one meetings, not group meetings. If you want to dig into some of the stickier issues that come up at work, they need to be private. Heading to a conference room away from your desks, going for a walk, visiting a coffee shop, or getting lunch together are all viable options. If you're managing someone remote, then making sure you're in a private area for the call helps a lot, too.
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One on one meetings should be for discussing the most important matters, according to Andy Grove

3) Tell your team about your new one on one meeting plan.

One on one meetings are focused on your team, so clearly you should explain this to them. Otherwise, they'll think they're in trouble, or just be nervous of what the reason is for the meeting.

You want them to be excited about the meeting, not discouraged, or afraid. You may not realize how intimidating meeting with you may be for some people on your team.

The best way to relieve any concerns is to be clear with them what your goals are for the one on one meeting and how it will work. You can accomplish that with these tactics:

Hi [Name],

I'm going to start doing one on ones with you and other members of the team. This is to get more feedback from you as well as give you a place we can talk about anything that's bothering you, your career development, and more. 

To start, we'll have the first one on [Date] at [Time]. We can then talk about a time that we can stick to regularly afterwards.

If you want to learn more about what to expect, this post can help you: https://getlighthouse.com/blog/one-on-ones-employee-know/

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

  • Set a recurring meeting on both your calendars: It's important to build a rhythm with your one on ones; part of the benefit is the knowledge that there will be a time soon to meet again. This allows you both to be accountable to what you discussed last time (as you'll be checking progress on it), and help you both plan when you'll have a chance to talk privately about any issues since the last meeting.

If you start your one on one meetings off with good fundamentals, it will be much easier to build momentum quickly with your team. By following the above tips, you and your team members can be confident heading into them.

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One on one meetings show you care about your team

Step 2 - During the Meeting: What to do in your one on one meetings

Now that you know how to set the stage for success before your one on one meetings, let's talk about the second step to a successful one on one: making the most of the time you're sitting down with each person on your team.

Here are a few ideas for the first meeting, and how to keep those meetings fresh for many meetings to come.

one on one meetings template: bring good questions like Melanie Whelan of Soul Cycle

1) Bring great one on one meeting questions to break the ice and create psychological safety

The first one on one meeting will be a little awkward with each person on your team, especially if you haven't built a lot of rapport with them yet.

Talking to an almost stranger who is your boss can be both intimidating, and filled with uncertainty; it's hard to tell how candid you can really be without first building a foundation of rapport, trust, and psychological safety.

You have to push past this discomfort. Show you care about them and are interested in what they have to say by approaching your one on one meetings this way:

  1. Bring some good one on one questions to ask: Since the one on one meeting is for your team member, asking questions is one of the single best ways to bring the focus to them. If you're looking for where to begin, any of these are good starting points:
    • 100+ Questions to Ask in One on Ones: These are good for anyone, but especially individual contributors that may have more helpful insights from the front lines than you realize. Examples:
      • What work are you doing here that you feel is most in line with your long term goals?
      • Do you feel like you're making progress on your big goals here? Why or why not?
      • How do you prefer to receive feedback?
      • How can I better support you?
      • What is the company not doing today that we should do to better compete in the market?
    • 82 Ways to Build Rapport with anyone you work with: If you feel like you really don't know them well, these questions can help you get to know each other, build trust, and show you care about them as more than an employee. Examples:
      • What do you like to do in your free time? 
      • What did you do for fun in the past that you haven't had as much time for lately?
      • What's your favorite podcast or show you've been following lately?
      • What's one thing we could change about work for you that would improve your personal life?
      • What drives you? What motivates you to come to work each day?
    • 96 Questions to Ask Managers in One on Ones: Your managers need one on one meetings too, and these questions help you specifically support them better. Examples:
      • What's one thing we could do for you to help improve the performance of your team?
      • Who do you think is at risk of leaving the company? How could we save them?
      • What's one thing I could do to better support you?
      • What has come up in your one on ones lately that I should know about, or you'd like help with?
    • 47 Questions to Ask in Skip Level One on ones: For the advanced players, skip level one on ones are a meeting where you meet with those that report to your direct reports. These questions can help you uncover key ways to coach your managers reporting to you, and get insights from the front lines. Examples:
      • When was the last time you had a conversation with your manager about your career? How did it go?
      • What is a recent situation you feel like your manager did a great job?
      • What's one thing your team should stop doing? Why that?
    • 31 Questions to Ask Remote Employees to Better Support Them: Full-time remote work is becoming increasingly common. Remote employees face unique challenges that many managers aren't even aware of. These questions will help you build rapport with your remote employees and better support them in working through those challenges. Examples:
      • What's your favorite part about working remote? (Understand what drives them)
      • Have you been surprised by any news announced at an all hands? What was it?
      • How well do you feel you know your coworkers?
  2. Ask follow up questions: As the CEO of SoulCycle, Melanie Whelan, said in a NY Times interview (and pictured above), your work isn't done when you ask a question. Ask follow up questions (especially using What & How) so you fully understand their answers. You may be surprised what you discover by going beyond a first answer, and your team will appreciate you are paying attention enough to ask followups.
  3. Assume positive intent: It's easy to jump to conclusions when you hear about a problem. If you don't have rapport with someone you can easily think a mistake was intentional or malicious. Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi, puts it best what happens when you do the opposite:
    • "Whatever anyone says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different...You will be amazed. Your emotional (intelligence) quotient goes up… You do not get defensive… You are trying to understand and listen….when you assume positive intent, the other person says, ‘Hey, wait a minute, maybe I'm wrong reacting the way I do because this person is really making an effort'.”

When you come to the meeting with the right mindset and a few good questions, you help your one on ones push past the awkward and into the healthy and productive.

Just like Nooyi's lesson on assuming positive intent, after a few 1 on 1 meetings, you'll be amazed how good they can be. The discussions your questions have sparked, and the shift in both of your attitudes to each other will have you feeling totally different about 1 on 1s.

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One on one meetings template: mary kay ash knows praise is a great topic

2) Have a variety of other good topics for discussion.

Asking good one on one meeting questions is a key part of your one on ones, but don't make the mistake of falling into a rut by asking the same things every time.

There's so much you can, and should, cover in these meetings that have no other time to be discussed. If you've ever gotten to the end of a year, or to the next review cycle, and realized there was something you haven't discussed since last review/year-end, you know exactly what we're talking about:

Want one place to store all of this information that can make your 1:1s amazing? Download our free meeting template below.

1 on 1 meeting template

Making time to cover all these topics will open up a whole new world for you as a manager. Your self-awareness will improve and you'll catch and fix problems earlier as your team will trust coming to you. One on one meetings are the embodiment of the old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." 

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one on one meetings - Peter Drucker knows how important commitment is

3) Demonstrate your commitment to them with your actions and create accountability for both of you.

All these conversation topics are helpful in your one on one meetings and your relationship with each team member. They will appreciate you cared to ask and listened intently. However, it quickly becomes hollow if nothing changes.

You have to take action on what you talked about, and help them feel and make progress. Fortunately, a few simple habits can help ensure this happens:

  • Take notes! Yes, it's their meeting, but it's your job to take notes. You need to remember what they told you that's important to them. As Andy Grove wrote, "Equally important is what "writing it down” symbolizes…the act implies a commitment, like a handshake, that something will be done.”  If you're uncertain the best way to take notes, here are a few approaches to try (the last 5 Minutes Method is my favorite).
  • Ask one more question: In addition to worrying about zingers, the other thing you need to do as a manager is to make sure you've fully explored a topic. Don't be afraid to ask one more question when your team member is done talking about a topic. It can help ensure you don't miss anything and get to the root cause. This helps you avoid costly management debt.
  • Establish the next steps and email them after the meeting: While you're writing down notes, it's important to also establish what you can both do to make progress on what you discussed. This prevents you from talking about the same thing every meeting and makes your meetings clearly valuable. If your team sees that when you talk about something, you also do something about it, they know it's worth it to bring up issues. Research shows that emailing those next steps afterward helps ensure they get done and is key to turning around underperforming employees.

With a few key habits in your one on one meetings, you can make them extremely productive and effective. When you cover the right topics and ensure progress is made together on those discussions, you'll see the tremendous value in these meetings.  Most importantly, you'll see a strong boost in the morale and motivation of your team.

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one on one meetings - set a good example to your team.

Step 3 - After the Meeting: What to do from now until your next one on one meeting

The last and final step in our one on one meeting template is something often missed by managers: what you do after the meeting is over (and before the next).

If you've started your one on one meetings with the right fundamentals, and are building good habits when in the meeting, the last thing you need to do is bridge the divide between meetings.

What you do between meetings makes all the difference in whether your one on ones get better or worse over time. When you cover the same issues over and over again, and nothing changes, or you forget altogether what happened last time, resentment will build on your team.

That resentment then leads to them shutting down in their one on ones. They no longer trust coming to you with anything or see the point in answering your questions because nothing ever comes from it. It won't be long before you stop hearing about problems altogether... until it's too late and you get blindsided by an employee turnover wave.

To keep your one on one meetings from becoming ineffective, here's what to do instead.

one on one meetings template - Ed Catmull knows how important comittment is

1) Next time for you (the manager): Build a rhythm and remember

People may listen to what you say, but even more important, they watch what you do. The best conversation in a one on one meeting will ring hollow if there's no follow-through after.

Meanwhile, when you do your part to be ready for the next one on one meeting, you'll see how your team appreciates the progress they feel. It will make your one on ones more and more comfortable and high quality.

Doing this is actually quite easy. Here's what to do:

  • Keep your promises: Whatever actions came out of the last meeting, you need to do your best to take care of them by the next meeting or have a reasonable explanation of why you couldn't do it. As Ed Catmull, CEO and cofounder of Pixar, wrote (and quoted above) they learned that the actions of leaders was what mattered most to maintaining a great culture as they grew.
  • Review your notes: Anything a team member tells you in their one on one is important to them. This is why taking notes and clearly setting action items is so important.  To close the loop and build a rhythm between meetings, you should review your notes. This also avoids the awkward moment of sitting down in the meeting and asking, "what did we talk about last time?" which is sure to be a downer for that team member to hear and wastes precious time.
  • Prepare some topics: As we've shown you above, there are many great things you can discuss in your one on one meetings. However, they all require some effort on your part. A little preparation to pick out a few questions to ask, or consider an area you can provide feedback or praise, can make all the difference in the quality of your meeting.
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one on one meetings template: make progress like Teresa Amabile recommends

2) Next time for them (the employee): Get them involved and hold them accountable as well

The work to make one on ones great is not all on you. One on one meetings are your team member's meeting after all.

Your team is responsible just like you for actions between meetings. The good news is, this action represents essential progress for them, which research by Stanford Ph.D. Teresa Amabile (pictured above) has found is essential to motivation and happiness at work.

Here's how they can be a part of building a rhythm and positive momentum in your one on one meetings:

  • Prepare an agenda: Once you both have a recurring event on your calendars for your one on one, they know the next time you'll be meeting. Ask them to bring topics they want to discuss. When you put in so much effort to the meeting, it's fair to ask them to put some thought in advance as well, so you spend the time on the most important things to them.
  • Hold them accountable: Whether you're setting new goals for them to progress on, or the next steps from your discussion last time, it's important they keep their promises, too. Close the loop by checking in on what were next steps last time at the start of the next meeting. This ensures progress happens and takes advantage of the power of repetition.  This is especially helpful and important when you're working to improve a disengaged or underperforming team member.
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Part 3: One on one meeting tips for Advanced Leaders

We've covered a lot in this post already. For those of you already familiar with the fundamentals, these last two sections cover the common pitfalls you may have to coach others out of, as well as some advanced tactics that can take your org from good to great.

one on one meetings template drucker knows

1) What great leaders *don't* do:

There's a lot of bad advice on the internet, especially for 1 on 1s. I've seen one on one meeting templates elsewhere that make me weep for the poor employees subjected to them.

While we don't have time to cover all the sins (see here for a detailed breakdown of 10 of the worst offenders), the most common issues we hear over and over again are:

  • The 10/10/10 rule is terrible: Quick! You have 10 minutes to cover everything important to you for the last 2-4 weeks. Squeeze in a request for a raise, a question about a project, and help on a situation that came up last week. Also, your manager is going to come a few minutes late, so it's really 8 minutes. Sorry! The 10/10/10 rule is misguided because it tries to force an expansive discussion into a ridiculous time frame. Still not convinced? Read our 2,000+ word essay on why this approach is misguided.
  • Group 1 on 1s fundamentally fail: It's called a 1 on 1. Not 2 or 3 on 1. Bringing someone else into the meeting completely changes the dynamic. If it's your boss, now it's the most intimidating meeting ever for the employee. If it's HR, then the person probably assumes they're being fired. Group 1 on 1s removes the rapport and trust that the 1 on 1 is meant to bring between two people.
  • Quarterly check-ins are pointless: Once every 90 days is not a worthwhile frequency to meet with your team for one on ones. Too much can happen, and too much can be forgotten. If you met this infrequently, you'd have over 500 hours of work between discussions. That's absentee leadership at that point and your team member won't know what's even worth discussing.
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one on one meetings with direct reports template horowitz communication design

2) Pro moves great leaders use with one on one meetings

Once you understand the value of one on ones, there's so much you can do with them. They go well beyond a few good topics of discussion and meeting with your direct reports.

Here's how great leaders take their powers to the next level:

  • Skip level meeting: Once you start managing managers, you start disconnecting from the front lines of your organization. Skip level one on ones are a great way to get in touch with your team on the front lines, and get feedback on your managers so you can better coach themThese questions can help you if you're just starting and Lighthouse can keep you organized in one place for all of them.
  • Peer one on ones: Another way to expand and improve the quality of your communication in your organization is to meet with peers and other colleagues that don't report to you. This can improve how cross-functional teams work, reduce tensions, and build stronger relationships with key stakeholders. If you're a product manager, they can be particularly transformative (here's more for PMs specifically).
  • Practice to be a more effective listener: Listening and asking good questions is a skill like any other. For leaders to succeed over the long term, it's a skill that needs to be mastered. Also, remember that introverts may not always open up in a group setting. That makes one on ones often the best way to get the maximum insights from your team. This takes practice, which regularly scheduled one on ones ensure you have time for.
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one on one meetings - trust is key in a crisis

3) How to use one on ones to help your team thrive in difficult times

Becoming a better listener is important, but it becomes absolutely critical in times of crisis. It's one of the single best ways to support your team especially when things are tough.

Whether you're reading this in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic or any other time of personal, economic, and/or global crisis, know that stopping one on ones is the last thing you want to do.

Instead, double down and focus in on the issue to find out how your team is feeling individually and take steps to help them manage those feelings and find some positive direction together.

That includes asking questions like: 

During a crisis, it's the bonds we have that help us stay strong. As a leader, you have the opportunity to show them that you care and help them find a sense of perspective that allows them to push on in the face of adversity.

To learn more about leading in times of uncertainty, read: Crisis Leadership: 18 Questions to Ask Your Team to Thrive in Difficult Times

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How do I make my 1-on-1s more effective?

effective 1 on 1s

To have great 1 on 1s, it's not enough to talk about the right things in the meeting, you need to take time to prepare beforehand. Get these things right to prepare effectively:

  • Choose the frequency: Ask yourself - Where are they at in their career? How well do they know how to do their current responsibilities? Do they need more of your time and coaching right now or less? Meet or less often accordingly.
  • Logistics: Get the fundamentals right: When, where, and how long will your meetings be? 60 minutes every week or two in a private place is best.
  • Tell your team: How will you let them know that you'll be starting regular 1 on 1s with them? Do you both know what you should do by your next 1 on 1?

For more on preparing for an effective 1 on 1, check out: How to prepare for a 1 on 1 meeting like a pro and One on One Meeting Tips: 30 Dos and Don'ts for Effective One on One Meetings.

What is the structure of a good 1 on 1?

How do you structure a 1 on 1?

A good 1 on 1 often includes time for a few or all of these topics:

- Building rapport
- Career development
- Coaching
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Giving praise for specific good work

- Getting their input, ideas, or buy-in

Keep in mind that what you focus on in your 1 on 1s depends on where the person is at in their professional development and their task relevant maturity in their current work. 

Each of these elements will change what kinds of things you talk about and focus on during your 1 on 1s, and that will continue to change as you meet with them over time.

To learn more about how to support your team as they develop in 1 on 1s, read: 1-on-1 Development: How to Make the Most of Your 1-on-1s throughout You and Your Team's Careers.

How often should you have one on one meetings?

You should have a goal of meeting with each employee every 1-2 weeks for a new one on one. 

The frequency of your one on ones should depend on a few things, such as:

- The pace of growth: The faster the company is moving, the more support your employees may need
- Their task relevant maturity: Are they recently promoted? Or are they working on something they've done hundreds of times before? This should affect how frequently you meet with them, with an employee who has lower task relevant maturity on their current project or role needing more frequent one on ones.
- Their time with you: How long have they been at the company? How long have they been meeting with your for regular one on ones? The longer, the less frequent meetings often need to be. If they're just starting, however, you should consider meeting with them daily for the first few weeks before dialing it down to weekly or bi-weekly over the first month.

How do you have a great one on one meeting?

1 on 1 meeting template

Having great one on one meetings requires:

- The right preparation before the meeting: Don't forget the agenda
- The right attitude and practices going into the meeting: The right questions are key to uncovering valuable information, gathering feedback, and building rapport
- And understanding that things don't end after the meeting: If you took effective notes, you should have action steps to take and follow up on (for you and them) 

Learn more about having great one on one meetings: One on One Meetings: The Only Guide Managers Need (+ Free Checklist).

How do you invite your team to start having 1 on 1 meetings?

It’s important to set the right expectations up front when beginning 1 on 1s with your team. 

If you don’t communicate with your team why you’re starting 1 on 1s, there’s a good chance they’ll be worried they’re in trouble or that something else is wrong.

To avoid this from happening, let them know what to expect from the very beginning. Explain to them that 1 on 1 meetings will be an opportunity for regular coaching, feedback (both ways), career development, and more that will be invaluable to both of you.

What should I ask in my 1 on 1s?

One on one meeting questions

One on ones offer a number of opportunities to develop a stronger relationship with your team members, gather and give feedback, coach, and more.

Here are a few great questions you can ask in your 1 on 1s: 

  • How can I better support you?
  • What did you do for fun in the past that you haven't had as much time for lately?
  • What drives you? What motivates you to come to work each day?
  • What's one thing I could do to better support you?
  • When was the last time you had a conversation with your manager about your career? How did it go?

For more 1 on 1 questions, see: Great one on one meeting questions to break the ice (and other uses).

Jason Evanish

Jason Evanish

As the founder and CEO of Get Lighthouse, Inc, Jason and the Lighthouse team have helped managers grow their leadership skills in dozens of countries around the world. They’ve worked with a variety of companies from non-profits to high growth startups, and government organizations to well known, publicly traded companies. Jason has also been featured in publications including NPR, the Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company.

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