From a report's perspective, success of a 1:1 is if you feel like your manager is an ally or not. If your manager is willing to give you information, listen to

From a report's perspective, success of a 1:1 is if you feel like your manager is an ally or not. If your manager is willing to give you information, listen to your problems, say things a bit too spicy for public settings, and escalate issues, then 1:1s are great. If you feel like your manager may use things said in confidence against you, makes empty promises, and go overs topics covered elsewhere, then 1:1s are a waste. Like all relationships, its a two way street. But if you can't get your employees to talk to you in a 1:1 besides performative platitudes, then they might not trust you. Someone people are more trusting than others, and I definitely think people play a more strategic game the higher they get in management.