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The Quick Reference Guide to 1:1s for Small Business Owners
Transform Your Business Culture with Effective 1:1 Meetings
Josh Schultz
September 17, 2023
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The Quick Reference Guide to 1:1s for Small Business Owners
Detailed Write-up: Quick Reference to 1:1s
Small changes, done consistently, can bring massive changes to your business. The best example of this – the 1:1 meeting. This often underestimated practice can supercharge your team's performance, foster a healthy workplace culture, and drive your business toward success.
1:1 Meetings: Breaking the Mold
The 1:1 meeting is a remarkable departure from conventional meetings. It's more about discussion than formality, and it flips the information flow, empowering your employees to steer conversations.
Here's why it's a must-have in your toolkit:
Benefits for Everyone
Employee: These meetings empower your team members, making them feel valued and crucial to the organization's success. Healthy relationships emerge, leading to a vibrant workplace.
Manager: Constructive feedback is easier to provide in this setting, removed from the heat of the moment. This approach leads to more objective and fruitful discussions.
Business: Stronger relationships, smoother problem-solving, and a robust workplace culture result from 1:1 meetings. The reduced turnover and heightened job satisfaction boost your bottom line.
Feedback Made Easy
Tackling tough feedback is a breeze with 1:1 meetings. They allow you to share smaller chunks of feedback regularly, preventing major issues from festering. Plus, the notes you take during these meetings provide a documented trail of expectations and progress.
"It's always easier to give small nudges throughout the year than address massive abrupt issues once a year."
The 1:1 Format
It's simple yet effective:
A 30-minute meeting between a manager and a direct report, with the latter taking the lead.
What's in a 1:1
1:1 meetings cover a wide spectrum of topics, making them incredibly versatile:
Check Progress
Give Feedback
Celebrate Wins
Address Challenges
Learning
Coaching
These meetings adapt to the specific needs of each session, from celebrating successes to problem-solving and venting.
Questions that Drive Great Meetings
Prepare for success by having relevant questions ready. Tailor your queries to the meeting's tone and direction:
General Questions
What would you like to talk about today?
What are you proud of? Is anything blocking you?
Do you need any support? How can I help you?
Growth
Where do you think you need improvement?
What are your professional goals?
What can I do to make you more successful?
Issues
What does your ideal outcome look like?
What’s hard for you in getting to that outcome?
What is your biggest point of frustration right now?
How can I help you?
Preparation is Key
Ensure you come to these meetings prepared. Use a template to organize your thoughts, including topics relevant to your direct reports, priorities, company news, issues, and action items.
My digital template looks like this:
Tips for Remarkable 1:1 Meetings
Consistency: Maintain the same time and frequency for these meetings to create a routine.
30-Minute Limit: Keep it concise and focused with a 30-minute duration.
Direct-Report-Driven: Let your employees lead the discussion.
Avoid Day-to-Day: Use this time for high-level, impactful conversations.
Take Notes: Show your commitment to their growth and use these notes for performance reviews.
Book Extra Time: Reserve a buffer in case of important discussions.
In the end, 1:1 meetings are your daily investment in communication, relationships, partnerships, and culture. There's no shortcut to achieving these vital components of a thriving business.
Take action today and harness the power of 1:1 meetings to streamline your operations, empower your team, and elevate your small business to new heights.
Bonus: as someone that does hundreds of 1:1s for his businesses, Michael Girdley shares his top tips on effective 1-on-1s in this thread.
Most managers do regular 1-on-1 meetings with employees.
But few do them well.
11 things good managers do that bad managers don’t in 1-on-1's:
— Michael Girdley (@girdley)
12:15 PM • May 16, 2023
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