How can you make one-to-one conversations meaningful and productive?

Meaningful and productive one-to-one meetings between managers and employees can be created through various measures:

  • Target definitionThe aim of the one-to-one meetings should be clearly defined.
  • Frequency & DurationThe general rule is that they should take place every two weeks for approx. 30 minutes per employee.
  • Relationship buildingInitially, great emphasis should be placed on building relationships and trust between managers and employees in order to facilitate an open discussion.
  • Tools like EchometerSupporting tools such as coaching question generators or 1-to-1 meeting software such as Echometer should be tried out in order to prepare the agenda together.
  • PreparationBoth sides should commit to preparing the 1-to-1 meeting.
  • Good questionsIn case of doubt, the manager should have certain coaching questions ready (e.g. on employee satisfaction, employee participation in meetings, etc.), such as those suggested by the 1-to-1 meeting tool Echometer.
  • Tool recommendationUses dedicated one-to-one meeting software such as Echometer.