Thread by @alagu

The year is almost over

It is a good time to sit with each person in your team (if you are managing one) for a 1-on-1 reflecting their last year and what they'd like to see in the new year.

Also, an opportunity to kickstart a new habit: recurring 1-on-1s.

A thread 🧵

https://twitter.com/year_progress/status/1209519105788780544

While the recommended frequency is weekly - it might be too much to start with.

Start with a monthly frequency. Set it up in your calendar, recurring. And don't ever cancel (cancelling communicates what is Important)

I do it towards end of the month, helps in reflecting.

If your team member is a manager, it becomes even more important to have it more frequently (fortnight, weekly)

In my previous job - I just can't imagine how I managed without recurring 1-on-1s with my boss. Plenty of surprises could have been avoided easily.

The benefits are insane.

1. It is a chance to build relationship, understand personal motivations & getting to know them.
2. Easy way to bring alignment and setting mutual expectations
3. Avoid any sort of surprises - departures, changes in management, bad performance

The mode you should be in during a 1-on-1 is to "listen".

Specifically - "Active Listening". 7cups has a course on this, checkout.

Ask questions - the ones let them open up more.

Your agenda should be less than 10% (eg: Sharing feedback on performance)

What questions to ask?

1. Start with "How is it going?" (personal & professional)
2. What were the highlights and lowlights?
3. What should I do more & do less?
4. What’s the most important problem in our company?
5. How was 2019? What would you like to see in 2020?

Things that usually surface up:

1. Confidence & Morale on the direction
2. Potential attrition
3. Sharing feedback on performance (by manager)
3. Burn-out & exhaustion
4. Lack of acknowledgement, recognition of work
5. Compensation, Career Path & Goals
6. Personal life changes

Now who else recommends this?

- Ben Horowitz calls it "Communication Architecture" (a16z.com/2012/08/30/one…)
- Zuckerberg & Sheryl do it every week, twice! (inc.com/ken-sterling/w…)
- Andy Grove says "90 mins of your time will improve productivity of your team by 2 weeks"

This is also a reminder for me on why I do 1-on-1s and why I'll continue to do them 😀

So here is to making your team more close-knit and productive in 2020! 🚀

Happy New Year!