Last week, whilst running a new manager development program I had a participant ask, “What makes for a good 1:1 with a team member?  Is there a particular structure?”.

 

There was certainly no denying that having regular 1:1’s was the way to go, and the question was a very good one.  

 

One participant offered her structure which was made up of three parts and she ran it in this order although timings were flexible:

 

 

I really liked this idea, as did the group and I would add a few more things to help you decide what is best for your individual team members:

 

• • Time - Schedule 60 and allow 90 mins in your diary, and then use what is necessary.  Sometimes you may only use 30 mins and other times you will welcome the extra time in your diary.  There’s nothing worse than having to say “our time is up!”.

 

• • Structure - Create a pattern that works for you and the other. The agenda mentioned above works.  You could also use a simple “Scan, Focus, Act” model.  Scan - Discussion broadly on what has been going on 3 min x 5 topic areas (just like the news).  Focus - what are the top 3 things you need to achieve this week.  Act - What do you specifically need help from me on?

 

• • Presence - Encourage the both of you to be fully present.  Phones off, emails away.  You will be more productive in that time if you are both fully present than if you come into it distracted.

 

• • Cadence - make it regular, reliable and relevant.  When the two of you get into a rhythm, the meetings will become more and more effective as time goes on.

 

#makingworkwork