How Managers Run Effective 1:1 Meetings

The most powerful meeting on your calendar?
The one you’re most likely to cancel.

1:1s are where trust is built, blockers get cleared, and your team gets better—not just busier.

But most managers treat them like status updates.
The best ones treat them like leadership tools.

Why it matters:

• Retention: People don’t leave companies—they leave managers who don’t listen

• Culture: 1:1s reinforce feedback, support, and connection

• Productivity: When employees feel heard, they perform better

What most managers overlook:

They either wing it—or turn it into a performance review.
Neither builds the relationship.

At Netflix, managers are encouraged to use 1:1s not for updates, but for real conversation—career growth, personal development, and two-way feedback. That mindset drives alignment and autonomy.

How to get it right:

• Let your team member own the agenda

• Come prepared with feedback, questions, and listening ears

• Make space for personal check-ins and growth conversations

• Keep it regular, sacred, and distraction-free

Do:
✅ Ask open-ended questions (“What’s something slowing you down?”)
✅ Follow up on past goals or challenges
✅ Use 1:1s to remove roadblocks—not just check boxes

Don’t:
❌ Cancel them unless absolutely necessary
❌ Treat them as updates you could get via email
❌ Dominate the conversation

Running effective 1:1s isn’t about managing time.
It’s about investing in people.