Why are One-On-One Meetings so Important?
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How strong is your team’s connection and work ability when they are all kept updated and well informed about group and individual progress?
This is why we have one-on-one (1:1) meetings at Wolox, so the team leader can meet regularly with each team member. As the name suggests, one-on-ones are held only between the team leader and one team member, in order to provide complete and exclusive feedback.
If you are new to one-on-one meetings it is likely to sound strange, you may even label them as a waste of time. To tackle this, like any good argument, we present 4 reasons why this kind of meeting should be conducted:
Trust
One-on-one’s help generate trust. This comfortable sharing environment is established, where the individual’s and team’s progress can be openly discussed. It is a time where the leader can grasp a better idea of the people they work with and to understand the team’s frustrations and weaknesses so as to consider them in future events.
Having a place where their leader listens to them also makes a huge difference for team members. There are concerns raised and an initiative to solve them.
See also: Wolox: A Startup By and For Millennials
Mutual feedback
Everyone, including Millennials like us, love to receive feedback, whether it comes from our leader or from the people you lead. We want to know what works and what doesn’t in every project, and to hear the solutions that haven’t been considered yet.
One-on-ones result into a constant feedback that flows naturally outside meetings.
Teamwork
Each team is made up of unique personalities, and as individuals, have different ways of working. Knowing the people you work with can help you understand the strengths and weaknesses and shape better dynamics. Problems within the team can thus be avoided or resolved quickly, preventing unwanted tension.
Create and maintain a career plan
One-on-ones are the perfect chance to discuss ambitions and new career development opportunities. This is often something that is not considered by the team.That’s why it’s the leader’s responsibility to bring forward these opportunities and identify talents for any future promotions.
See also: Home Office: A Mutual Benefit
The perfect one-on-one
Now that you know the strengths of the one-on-ones, and wish to have these meetings, we suggest following these tips as a guideline:
Ice-breakers: Start the conversation with a topic such as a recent personal achievement, to create a more welcoming atmosphere.
Self-assessment: Ask your team members to score from 1 to 10 different aspects on their lives and to explain their choice:
- University
- Health
- Social/family life
- Work
Provide Feedback: Constructive feedback about their individual work and the work they perform with the team ensure it’s both positive and negative.
Request Feedback: Having every team member expressing their opinion in regards to the project’s leadership is a great thing.
Set goals: Ideally, you should set specific goals and provide a deadline to fulfill them.
Outstanding issues: Before ending the meeting, it is wise to ask if they have any questions or if anything needs to be clarified.
You will be surprised to find yourself discussing issues in a relaxed, stress-free manner. This positive connection is what we would call a working relationship based on trust.
Posted by Conrado Mader Blanco (cmaderblanco@wolox.com.ar)
