One-to-one Meeting Template Resource (for Leaders)
Directions: Use the template below to frame a powerful one-to-one discussion. While this template provides a list of topics to cover for leaders and their direct reports, participants can cover additional topics that are currently relevant.
Description/Purpose: As a leader, it is important to use these meetings as a way to establish trust, develop skills and build relationships. Leaders can elevate these discussions by asking questions to increase engagement, and facilitate mattering. They can also be used as a gauge for ongoing employee feelings, satisfaction, and feedback.
Structure & Strategy: Quick, easy, and regular strategy… 20-30 mins each, semi-structured & conversational, and can be facilitated weekly to monthly depending on team and organizational context. Leverage motivational interviewing techniques to empower employees to seek their own solutions to challenges. Resist the temptation to solve their problems!
- Check-in on mental, social, and emotional performance, engagement, moral, and well-being… looking for early signs of stress, anxiety, or burnout (active listening)
- How are you feeling? Provide Emotional Guidance Scale
- Is there anything stressing you out or really “emptying your bucket” right now?
- Are you able to keep your bucket fairly full? What is the percentage full? Provide Filling Buckets Graphic
- Follow-up on tracking towards goals, KPIs, and OKRs
- Any recent accomplishments or successes to share?
- Do you have any preferences for recognition or appreciation of those success(es)?
- Are you challenged with prioritization, focus, and/or being intentional within your role?
- Providing bidirectional, formative feedback
- Is there anything I can do differently to better support you or the team?
- Has anyone else on the team shared any feedback with you about how we can improve?
- Accelerating career aspirations, growth, and development
- Is there anything else you want me to know?
- How can I best support you in your current role?
- How do you feel that you are developing as you progress through the Transform program (if applicable).
- How can I help you prepare for long-term goals, accomplishments, and/or career advancement?
Additional Questions to consider:
- Are there specific skills or areas of expertise you’d like to develop further? How can we assist you in achieving these goals?
- How can we improve collaboration and communication within the team to make everyone feel heard?
- Is there anything negatively affecting your well-being or your ability to connect with the team that you would like to discuss?
- Do you feel like you have the flexibility, autonomy or proper level of support to do your job well or learn new skills?
- How do you feel about the manageability level of your workload?
