698: How to Structure 1:1 Meetings, with Steven Rogelberg

Coaching for Leaders

Steven Rogelberg: Glad We Met

Steven Rogelberg is an organizational psychologist, holding the title of Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte for distinguished national, international and interdisciplinary contributions. He is an award-winning teacher and recipient of the Humboldt Award for his research on meetings. He is the author of Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings*.

Many us appreciate the value of 1:1 meetings with employees. For a lot of managers, it’s one of their biggest time commitments. And yet, nobody ever taught us how to do it. In this conversation, Steven and I discuss how to actually structure an effective 1:1.

Key Points

• First and foremost, a 1:1 meeting is for the direct report.
• A set schedule for 1:1’s with your team reduces bias by ensuring you connect with everyone, consistently.
• A loose framework is better than a lock-step agenda. Two approaches help: the manager proposing a core question or listing out topics that the direct report brings.
• Avoid status update meetings by articulating the purpose of 1:1’s and dedicating agenda time (or future meetings) to bigger picture topics.
• Skip-level 1:1’s are valuable for both employees and senior leaders. Avoid undermining another leader by approaching the meeting with the mindset to support the employee, rather than making decisions.

Resources Mentioned

• Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings* by Steven Rogelberg

Interview Notes

Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).

Related Episodes

• How to Lead Meetings That Get Results, with Mamie Kanfer Stewart (episode 358)
• Moving Towards Meetings of Significance, with Seth Godin (episode 632)
• Bringing Your Strengths to a Big Job, with General CQ Brown, Jr. (episode 691)

Discover More

Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.