“So what’s on your mind today? What do you want to talk about?” If there’s no agenda after those questions, it can lead to a frustrated direct report.
The 1-on-1 Check-In
1-on-1 check-ins between a manager and their direct report are a sacred place. Managers risk harming the relationship with their direct report when they aren’t prepared.
It’s true what they say – “Employees don’t quit their jobs; they quit their managers.”
In many situations, the manager is the closest connection a person has with their job. Employees count on their managers for so much, so it’s up to the managers to do right by their employees. Managers are responsible for developing, motivating, and connecting with their direct reports. The prime place to do this is during 1-on-1 check-ins.
Mindset Barriers
I choose to believe that everybody wants to be a great manager. They all want to succeed and help their direct reports succeed too. Here are barriers managers might need to address when looking to improve 1-on-1 check-ins.
- Who’s got the time? When you move into a managerial role, you are responsible for your work and that of your direct reports. There’s so much more to complete within the same amount of time. Preparation for check-ins can be the first to go when you get busy.
- Is an agenda necessary? You might think that regularly meeting with your direct report is enough. “I don’t need an agenda if I meet with them every week, do I?” You believe having a rough outline in your head is good enough for your direct report.
- What about their input? You may want your direct reports to feel like they are a part of the process, so you don’t waste time creating a lengthy detailed 1-on-1 plan.. You might not want it to seem like you are micromanaging your direct reports.
A Direct Report’s Perspective
I once had a client, let’s call him “Francisco,” who told me he wished his manager was more prepared for their check-ins. At the time, they only ever seemed to focus on project updates. Francisco wanted to feel like his manager cared about his development. Since their primary touch point was the 1-on-1, Francisco placed a lot of weight on that check-in.
Francisco told me there were five things he wanted from his manager during each check-in.
Here are the 5 key check-in topics that Francisco used to improve his check-ins with his manager. Every manager should incorporate these 5 1-on-1 check-in topics into their direct report’s check-in meetings.
5 Key 1-on-1 Check-In Topics
- Trust-building. You are never done improving your relationship with your direct report. An effective team dynamic starts with a solid foundation of trust. Leverage purposeful questions to help continue building trust with your direct reports. (Check out our app – Build Up Teams – for thousands of questions you can use)
- Feedback to your direct report. The primary vehicle by which you can develop your direct report is feedback. Direct reports deserve clarity on their progress in the role. Feedback helps you give them that clarity. Feedback tells your direct report how they’re doing, what they’re doing well, and where they can improve.
- Feedback from your direct report. Development isn’t a one-way street. Direct reports can provide managers with valuable insights through feedback. Managers can leverage this newfound information to improve their work. Asking for feedback also shows direct reports that their managers value their opinion.
- Goal-tracking. Effective managers set goals to maintain high-level performance with their teams. But setting goals doesn’t matter if you’re not tracking goal progress. You can energize your direct reports by checking in with them about their goal progress.
- Status Updates. When managers are up to date on their employees’ work, employees are 7x more engaged. When employees feel ignored, employees are 15x more disengaged. People want to feel like their manager acknowledges their progress.
Show your direct reports that you care by preparing for your next 1-on-1 check-in. Make it easy on yourself and save some time by incorporating the 5 key 1-on-1 check-in topics.
Opportunity
Could you use a proven 1-1 check-in agenda template?
