Coaching for Leaders

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

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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)
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