How Structured 1:1s Can Accelerate Your Career

In today’s corporate world, both employees and employers face productivity and performance challenges rooted in unclear expectations and lack of feedback. At first, the problem always looks like underperformance and declining business numbers, which can hinder an individual’s career progression and job satisfaction.

In this article, I will write from the employee’s point of view because they often suffer more when performance management is not done properly. As CareerLife Tribe members, your career growth is my priority, and structured 1:1s may be the solution to the problems you are experiencing.

There are different schools of thought regarding who should drive 1:1s—some say the line manager should take the lead, while others argue that it is the employee’s responsibility. For me, I think it is 50/50. Both have a stake, and both should drive it. If you work in a place where this is not the norm, this is your reminder to take the lead and structure your 1:1s properly.?

If you are still unsure why structured 1:1s are important and how they will help with your career growth, here are some reasons:

• Clarity on Expectations and Goals: You get continuous clarity on expectations and goals. Knowing your targets and how to achieve them is crucial for advancing in your career.
• Personalized Feedback and Development: With regular feedback, you can make necessary adjustments and enhance your performance continuously, making you more valuable to the organization.
• Addressing Challenges and Obstacles: Whether it's a difficult project, a skill gap, or interpersonal issues, these meetings allow you to seek guidance and support from your manager.
• Career Development and Growth Opportunities: A manager who understands your ambitions and capabilities is more likely to advocate for you when opportunities arise, such as promotions or new projects.

Here are some questions you should add to your 1:1s (some should be asked weekly, while others monthly or quarterly):

• What should I start, stop, continue? (Weekly)
• Current workload, successes, and challenges (Weekly)
• What role do you see for me in the future of this company? (Quarterly)
• What training should I be doing? (Quarterly)
• What do you think are my blind spots? (Monthly)
• Am I on track to meet my goals and your expectations from your perspective? Is any refocusing necessary? (Monthly)
• Team’s priority in the next 3 months, and what should my priority be? (Quarterly)

Additional Tips for a Productive 1:1:

• Prepare in Advance: Come prepared with notes and specific points you want to discuss. Use it to improve yourself and your future performance.
• Be Honest and Open: Communicate openly about your challenges, aspirations, and feedback.
• Stay Focused: Keep the conversation focused on the agenda to make the most of the time.
• Follow-up: Follow up on the action items and goals set during the meeting to show your commitment.

Last Week, we held our monthly community training session on the topic: Interview Preparation and techniques facilitated by Oredola Smith. In case you missed out on it, you can watch it here

Tell me: how have you used 1:1s to your advantage ?