Your first management role will come with new responsibilities that challenge you to learn a range of diverse skills, from navigating team conflicts to making decisions with organization-wide impact. One such skill that’s rarely discussed, but equally important to master, is leading one-on-one meetings.
How to Lead Your First One-on-One Meeting
A guide for new managers.
April 17, 2024
Summary.
As a new manager, a part of your role will now involve leading a different type of meeting: the one-on-one. Managers set aside time each week to meet individually with their direct reports to check in, align priorities, and ensure each person has the necessary resources to do their job. Here are a few principles to help you prepare for, conduct, and maximize the impact of your one-on-ones.
- Schedule a weekly, recurring meeting with your team member that aligns with their time commitments, create a meeting agenda to guide the conversation, and share the key discussion points with your team member ahead of time so they can review or add to them.
- During the meeting, give your team member your undivided attention. Use the points or questions outlined in your meeting agenda to structure the conversation and follow up on action items discussed in the previous one-on-one to gauge their progress. Try to align on action items for the next week, and exchange feedback.
- After the meeting, promptly send a follow-up email summarizing the key points you discussed. The goal is to outline which responsibilities are theirs to own and which are yours.
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HBR Learning
Meeting Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Meeting Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to make your meetings matter.
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New!
HBR Learning
Meeting Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Meeting Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to make your meetings matter.