When was the last time you checked in with your staff 1-on-1?

How often do you catch up with your team members? Have you got a regular meeting structure in place that ensures you regularly sit down one-on-one with your employees?

Effective communication and collaboration play an integral role in driving business success – that’s why one-on-one meetings are important tools managers can and should use to keep up to date with their employees and promote productivity.

Did you know that employees who don’t have regular check-ins with their managers are four times more likely to be disengaged and disconnected from the workplace?  With the job market heavily geared towards the job seeker, employers need to ensure they’re crossing every T and dotting every I when it comes to retaining staff or risk losing exceptional talent.

Here we explain what these meetings are and why they’re key to fostering a positive working environment for your employees.

So, what are one-on-one meetings?

One-on-one meetings, or individual meetings, are private conversations between a manager and employee that allow for open dialogue, feedback, and goal alignment. With the primary focus on the individual’s progress, challenges, and professional growth, these can also be a dedicated space to raise any issues or concerns that are present in the employment relationship.

Not only do these meetings allow managers to discuss and address individualised matters, but they also leave employees feeling valued and appreciated. These meetings should occur regularly, offering a confidential and supportive environment for both the manager and employee to discuss work-related matters, address any concerns, and build a stronger working relationship.

1. Building trust and engagement

Trust and engagement are perhaps the two most important cornerstones of a manager-employee relationship. Successful one-on-one meetings create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their thoughts, concerns, and aspirations.

2. Individual growth and development

Regular check-ins serve as an excellent platform for managers to monitor individual growth and development through consistent feedback and guidance targeted at improving identified strengths and weaknesses of employees.

3. Effective communication and conflict resolution

Providing a safe space for open and honest communication presents an opportunity for both managers and employees to discuss any concerns, conflicts, or misunderstandings before they escalate. Regular communication through one-on-one meetings also allows managers to stay informed about ongoing projects, monitor progress, and provide support where needed.

How should I structure my next one-on-one?

Structuring your next one-on-one will depend on your objective for this meeting – are you simply wanting to check in and connect with employees? Are you looking to drive collaboration? Are there any performance issues or problems that you need to address? To have a productive meeting, you need to ensure that you have a clear objective, and once this is established, you’ll be able to structure your meeting accordingly.

While there’s no set way to conduct these meetings, they’re crucial for fostering productivity and collaboration in the workplace. They promote trust, engagement, individual growth, and effective communication leading to higher employee satisfaction, improved performance, and enhanced team dynamics. By investing time and effort into one-on-one meetings, your business can create an environment that nurtures talent, supports employee development, and ultimately drives success.

If any of this information has raised any questions about one-on-one meetings and how to manage them or you have another matter you need advice on, please reach out to our experts via our 24/7 HR Advice Line.

Not a Citation HR  client? To learn more about how Citation HR can help your business, contact us here.