Coaching for Leaders

698: How to Structure 1:1 Meetings, with Steven Rogelberg

Listen Later
Steven Rogelberg: Glad We Met

Steven Rogelberg is an organizational psychologist, holding the title of Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte for distinguished national, international and interdisciplinary contributions. He is an award-winning teacher and recipient of the Humboldt Award for his research on meetings. He is the author of Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings*.

Many us appreciate the value of 1:1 meetings with employees. For a lot of managers, it’s one of their biggest time commitments. And yet, nobody ever taught us how to do it. In this conversation, Steven and I discuss how to actually structure an effective 1:1.

Key Points
  • First and foremost, a 1:1 meeting is for the direct report.
  • A set schedule for 1:1’s with your team reduces bias by ensuring you connect with everyone, consistently.
  • A loose framework is better than a lock-step agenda. Two approaches help: the manager proposing a core question or listing out topics that the direct report brings.
  • Avoid status update meetings by articulating the purpose of 1:1’s and dedicating agenda time (or future meetings) to bigger picture topics.
  • Skip-level 1:1’s are valuable for both employees and senior leaders. Avoid undermining another leader by approaching the meeting with the mindset to support the employee, rather than making decisions.
    • Resources Mentioned
    • Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings* by Steven Rogelberg
      • Interview Notes

      Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).

      Related Episodes
      • How to Lead Meetings That Get Results, with Mamie Kanfer Stewart (episode 358)
      • Moving Towards Meetings of Significance, with Seth Godin (episode 632)
      • Bringing Your Strengths to a Big Job, with General CQ Brown, Jr. (episode 691)
        • Discover More

        Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Coaching for LeadersBy Dave Stachowiak
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8

        4.8

        1,392 ratings

        More shows like Coaching for Leaders

        View all
        The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

        The Look & Sound of Leadership

        1,164 Listeners

        The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

        The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

        1,333 Listeners

        Teaching in Higher Ed by Bonni Stachowiak

        Teaching in Higher Ed

        372 Listeners

        HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

        HBR IdeaCast

        1,849 Listeners

        Negotiate Anything by Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.

        Negotiate Anything

        707 Listeners

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job

        1,028 Listeners

        Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

        Worklife with Adam Grant

        9,167 Listeners

        Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

        Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

        96 Listeners

        Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast by John Maxwell

        Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast

        385 Listeners

        Maxwell Leadership Podcast by John Maxwell

        Maxwell Leadership Podcast

        2,446 Listeners

        Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

        Inside the Strategy Room

        175 Listeners

        No Bullsh!t Leadership by Martin G Moore

        No Bullsh!t Leadership

        124 Listeners

        A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

        A Bit of Optimism

        2,178 Listeners

        Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

        Coaching Real Leaders

        668 Listeners

        ReThinking by TED

        ReThinking

        638 Listeners

        HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

        HBR On Leadership

        164 Listeners