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Whenever I've managed people, I've made a point of scheduling weekly 1:1s; did that even with 12 or so reports, and it did take a significant chunk of time, but

Whenever I've managed people, I've made a point of scheduling weekly 1:1s; did that even with 12 or so reports, and it did take a significant chunk of time, but it was IMO one of the most important things, if not the most important thing, I could do for them as a manager (and also the one I enjoyed the most about the role). As other commenters have said, the 1:1 time is the report's time. It's a chunk of time in which I'm entirely and exclusively available to them. I have a set of standard questions I can default to, mostly trying to understand how they're feeling, and open-ended enough that they can talk about whatever they want. Some are done in 5 minutes with a progress report, some take close to an hour in which they sometimes share personal stuff; it's all good from my POV, happy employees are productive employees. It's absolutely not just about their job/career path. You wouldn't believe what a MASSIVE difference it makes for people just to be heard and have your undivided attention.

josephwegner 8y ago
I am about 6mo into a job with weekly 1:1s, and am coming from a job that did them every other week. I am always excited for my weekly 1:1. As a disclaimer, my boss scheduled a weekly 30min 1:1 when I started, but with the caveat that we could make it less often if I found it not useful. He just preferred weekly during the "settling in" phase. Almost without fail, our 1:1s go over time, totaling between 45min and 1hr. I can't imagine how my boss finds the time, but I so appreciate that he does. I keep a pinned slack message in our DM, of priority-ordered things to discuss. Often these are things like: - Something went wrong this week. How did I do? How could I have performed better? - I noticed something unhealthy with our team, how can we fix it? - You did something that surprised me as a manager, what was your thought process (this is sometimes critical feedback, sometimes curiousity) - Is this thing I want to do a good idea? - Debrief on progress (or lack thereof) on a predefined goal. - Help me with this stupid HR/Expense report thing And the list always ends with: - leave space for <BOSS> to discuss things he wants This is easily the most valuable growth time of my week. I appreciate my IC time to do an excellent job, but the 1:1s help me pick my head up and think about bigger things.
- GordonS 8y ago
  > As a disclaimer, my boss scheduled a weekly 30min 1:1 when I started, but with the caveat that we could make it less often if I found it not useful I always preferred managers like this, who are not totally dogmatic about things like weekly meetings - instead doing what works best for each individual.
SeanLockItUp 8y ago
I don't know but when I was reading your comment I just kept thinking that the weekly 1:1 that you're advocating is being done for your reports is really just being done for yourself. I'm with the OP that 1:1 every 2 weeks is better.
- greglindahl 8y ago
  Is once per two weeks better for you, or also for everyone else? I've noticed that people are pretty wildly different as employees. And that it's a lot easier to ask for fewer 1:1s than to ask for more.

josephwegner 8y ago

I am about 6mo into a job with weekly 1:1s, and am coming from a job that did them every other week. I am always excited for my weekly 1:1. As a disclaimer, my boss scheduled a weekly 30min 1:1 when I started, but with the caveat that we could make it less often if I found it not useful. He just preferred weekly during the "settling in" phase. Almost without fail, our 1:1s go over time, totaling between 45min and 1hr. I can't imagine how my boss finds the time, but I so appreciate that he does. I keep a pinned slack message in our DM, of priority-ordered things to discuss. Often these are things like: - Something went wrong this week. How did I do? How could I have performed better? - I noticed something unhealthy with our team, how can we fix it? - You did something that surprised me as a manager, what was your thought process (this is sometimes critical feedback, sometimes curiousity) - Is this thing I want to do a good idea? - Debrief on progress (or lack thereof) on a predefined goal. - Help me with this stupid HR/Expense report thing And the list always ends with: - leave space for <BOSS> to discuss things he wants This is easily the most valuable growth time of my week. I appreciate my IC time to do an excellent job, but the 1:1s help me pick my head up and think about bigger things.

GordonS 8y ago
> As a disclaimer, my boss scheduled a weekly 30min 1:1 when I started, but with the caveat that we could make it less often if I found it not useful I always preferred managers like this, who are not totally dogmatic about things like weekly meetings - instead doing what works best for each individual.

SeanLockItUp 8y ago

I don't know but when I was reading your comment I just kept thinking that the weekly 1:1 that you're advocating is being done for your reports is really just being done for yourself. I'm with the OP that 1:1 every 2 weeks is better.

greglindahl 8y ago
Is once per two weeks better for you, or also for everyone else? I've noticed that people are pretty wildly different as employees. And that it's a lot easier to ask for fewer 1:1s than to ask for more.