I’ve shared how I think meetings need to die. Most meetings offer nothing to the attendees and very little to the one who called the meeting. It eats into valuable time.
There is a meeting that is very powerful. That meeting? The one-on-one meeting.
The Power Of Regular One On One Meetings
What is a one on one meeting?
A one-on-one meeting is a meeting between a leader, manager, or supervisor and someone they oversee. During the meeting, the duo discusses what has been accomplished, what needs to be accomplished, and how it can be accomplished. The leader also asks what they can do to help their team member, if there are any challenges, and what the leader can do to improve.
One-on-one meetings aren’t a one-way street. They should be a two-way line of communication.
What makes a one on one meeting powerful?
This is the question leaders need to ask themselves. AND their team members.
You can make a one-on-one meeting do what you desire. But making it about what you and your team member desires is even better.
It’s also what makes it so powerful.
You have a scheduled time to check in on your team member. You can go over whatever you want.
Your team member then has a scheduled time to check in with their manager. They can go over whatever they want.
When done well, the lines of communication are open and flowing. You’re able to share what’s going well and what needs to improve. When review time comes, there are no surprises.
But the truly powerful aspect of regular one-on-one meetings is the ability to help your team member grow.
You both have each other’s attention. You’re focusing on growth and what comes next. This means you can mentor your team member on a regular basis.
During the one-on-one meetings, make it a point to ask how you can help your team member. Do they need a good book to read? Is there a resource they’re missing? Are they doing well?
Getting these answers will help you craft a way to help grow the team member. Your extra knowledge can be poured into your team member.
Use the one-on-one meeting to make sure things are on track. More importantly, use the meeting to help your team member grow.
Provide them with great books. Offer to help them understand the intricacies of the business. Share with them what you’ve been learning.
You’ll be surprised how quickly the one-on-one meetings become the favorite part of your week. You’ll also be surprised with how much growth you see from those you’re leading.
They’ll grow when you start watering. Water away with one-on-one meetings!
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