For many of us in the workplace, one on one meetings are a necessary evil to be avoided at all costs.
“Awkward.” “Disorganized.” “Pointless.” 1:1s produce countless negative feelings for even the most enthusiastic employees. Having a solid, standard, and well-planned agenda can prevent that negativity - and make your one on one meeting productive and worthwhile.
What is a one on one meeting?
A 1:1 meeting is a regular dedicated sit-down between a manager and employee. One on one meetings serve to connect employees with management, where they can express their feelings, overcome obstacles, plan for the future, and ask for advice.
Why you need 1:1 meetings
Plenty of meetings in the workplace are actually time-wasters. How many times have you seen a meme that reads, “I survived another meeting that should have been an email?” The feeling is ubiquitous across all types of businesses. Often, even a team check in can be seen as pointless.
But what makes this the common sentiment? It may just be that your team member feels isolated or unheard.
That's why 1:1 meetings are important for employees and managers alike. In a 1:1, managers can make sure employees are placing their focus where it needs to be.
These meetings give a manager an opportunity to guide an employee on their professional goals to forge a stronger bond and a happy workplace. To reap this benefit, you must plan an efficient meeting by building a well-designed meeting agenda.
How to build 1:1 meeting agenda
Every one-on-one meeting should include:
- Feedback
- Coaching
- Notes taken since the last meeting
Your one on one meeting agenda should be shared prior to the meeting, giving both the manager and employee a chance to include their own notes and questions.
Looking to optimize the time spent in your meeting? Add time blocking to your agenda to make sure your meeting stays on track and doesn’t run over. And encourage your team members to take a no-meeting day afterward so they can work uninterrupted.
Here’s a one on one meeting template to build your next agenda:
1:1 agenda template
Want a template to set up an agenda for your own one on one meetings? We’ve put one together—you can find it here:
1:1 Meetings: Sample Agenda Template for Managers
How do you structure your 1:1 meetings? Tweet at us @flock with your top suggestions.
