Understanding the importance of 1-1s

So you have stepped into a line management role and you are wondering about these "1:1s" everyone keeps talking about.

Why do they matter?

Having 1:1 with the colleagues that you line manage is really important. Meeting frequently and consistently allows them to express their concerns , aspirations , feelings before those reach a tipping point. It is an investment from your side as it allows you to offer candid feedback and guidance to your colleague as well.

These meetings usually last 15-30 minutes if they are frequent enough ( lets say every week ) and can extend up to an hour. Here's the crucial part: when you do an 1-1 with a colleague that you line manage you need to understand that this time is not about you - it's about them.

The importance of safe space

Everyone has career aspirations and wants to grow and try new things.If you don't provide that platform to have those conversations within the company they will seek it elsewhere. Thinking of 1:1s as a safe space where your team members can share:

• Share their challenges without fear of judgment
• Discuss their career goals openly
• Bring up concerns before they become major issues
• Celebrate their wins, no matter how small

Making the most of your time together

Some practical tips to make your 1:1s more effective:

• Be consistent. Set it in the calendar and stick to it.
• Come prepared, but stay flexible. Have something to discuss but be ready to pivot to what your colleague wants to discuss.
• Take notes. Remember what you have discussed and have some notes to come back to in order to track progress.
• Ask questions. Check their workload , mood , anything that you can do to support them, any challenges at the moment.
• Listen. Resist the urge to solve those problems instantly.

1:1s is a way to build trust

This is an excellent tool to get the vibe of your team and build trust among your team. As a result you need to pay attention to any warning signs :

• They consistently have "nothing to discuss"
• They seem disengaged or distracted
• Purely tactical conversation

And it is really important to find the root cause of that disengagement sooner than later.

Key discussion topics

Great 1:1s flow naturally, but having a mental toolkit of topics and questions can help you navigate different situations. Here are some key areas to explore:

Job satisfaction

This is fundamental to your team member's well-being and performance. Regular temperature checks help you spot potential issues early:

• Are you happy with your recent work? Why or why not?
• Tell me about what you’ve learned on this project.
• What are you most excited about?
• What are you most worried about?
• What are your biggest concerns about your current project(s)?
• What aspect of this project has been particularly interesting for you?
• What could I do to make you enjoy your work more?
• What did you like most/least about that?
• What do you enjoy the most in your current role?
• What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment here?
• What do you feel like you're learning from this project?
• What do you like most about working on our team?
• What do you like most about your job today?
• What do you like the least?

Career growth

• Have you read or seen anything interesting in ____ lately?
• Where do you see your role evolving?
• What kind of projects would help you grow?
• What additional training or education would you like?
• What kind of training or experience would be most helpful to you right now?
• During this meeting you’ve mentioned that you’d like to pursue _____. What steps can you take toward that before our next 1:1?

Team and company

• Are there any aspects of our culture you wish you could change?
• How do you feel about our team's communication?
• How could our team meetings be more valuable?
• Is there anyone on the team that you would like to work with more?
• Has anyone on the team ever made you feel uncomfortable? What happened?
• How would you rate our communication as a team?
• Is there a situation you’d like my help with?
• What could you have done differently?
• What excites you about our business? The company? What concerns you?
• What is the #1 Problem at our company? Why?

Remember to adapt these questions to your context and don't try to cover everything in one session. The best conversations often start with one good question and flow naturally from there.

Final thoughts

Hopefully this document can act as a helping guide in your journey. Remember the investment you make in these conversations will pay dividends in team engagement , retention , happiness. Everyone on your team will appreciate having a space where they can express themselves and get guidance on how they can grow to become better versions of themselves. Moreover, great 1:1s don't happen by accident - as with everything, practice makes perfect. Each conversation is an opportunity to improve as a manager and build stronger relationships with your team members. Stay curious, keep learning, and most importantly, keep showing up for your team.

The time you invest in meaningful 1:1s today will help build the high-performing, engaged team you want to lead tomorrow.