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 🧵
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 🧵
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.
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.
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
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)
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?
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
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"
- 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!
So here is to making your team more close-knit and productive in 2020! 🚀
Happy New Year!
