Most managers waste their 1-on-1s.

This is how I make sure I don’t:

Early in my career,
I didn’t understand the power of a great 1-on-1.

As a founder, I make sure my 1-on-1s drive growth, trust, and retention.

As a Manager:
Here’s what I do differently.

I plan ahead. My team knows the agenda before we meet.
No surprises, no wasted time.

I start with a human check-in. No one wants to jump straight into work talk.
A few minutes of real conversation builds trust.

I always give structured feedback.
I use “Start, Stop, Continue”:

Start: What new actions could help them grow?
Stop: What habits might be slowing them down?
Continue: What are they excelling at? Reinforce their strengths.

I set meaningful goals with them, not for them. Using “The 3Ps” framework:

Project: What’s the next big deliverable?
Progress: How are their skills evolving?
Path: Where do they want to go in their career?

I never cancel. If something comes up, I reschedule.
It’s a signal that their time matters.

I listen more than I talk.
My job is to unblock—not dominate the conversation.

I offer genuine support. Saying, “Let me know if you need anything” is lazy.
Instead, I make specific offers to help.

As an Employee,
Here’s what I did to make my 1-on-1s count:

I came prepared.
I treated these meetings as a chance to drive my own growth, not just report updates.

I gave my managers feedback using “The H.O.W.” framework:

Highlight: What’s working?
Start with the positives.

Observe: What challenges are holding me back?
Be honest.

Wish: What support do I need?
Be specific.

I took ownership of my career.
I didn’t wait for my manager to ask about my goals—I brought them up myself.

I defined my own growth using the “G.R.I.T.” framework:

Goal: What’s my long-term career objective?
Reality: Where am I right now? What gaps exist?
Initiative: What skills, projects, or mentorship will get me there?
Timeline: When do I want to reach each milestone?

Invest in these conversations.
You’ll see the ROI in trust, collaboration, and retention.

What’s your 1-on-1 strategy?

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