Making the Most of Your 1:1s: Stop Wasting Your Opportunity
1:1 meetings with your manager are your best chance to showcase your impact, align priorities, and get the guidance you need. Yet, as a manager, I see significant variability in how my team approaches these meetings. Some come prepared with a clear agenda, while others treat this valuable time like a casual coffee chat.
If you’re coming to your 1:1s unprepared, you’re missing a valuable opportunity. In a competitive professional environment, making the most of these meetings is essential to ensuring your work gets noticed and your impact is recognized.
Here’s why preparation matters and how you can use your 1:1s to stand out and make your contributions difficult to overlook.
The Problem With “Fuzzy” 1:1s
When your 1:1s lack structure or focus, it’s not just inefficient—it’s harmful to your career, resulting in:
The Benefits of a Focused Agenda
Coming prepared with a focused agenda doesn’t just make your 1:1 more productive—it turns it into a platform to showcase your value and strengthen your manager’s understanding of your contributions. By structuring the conversation strategically, you can:
How to Prepare for Effective 1:1s
Preparation is the key to making your 1:1 productive and ensuring your manager understands your contributions. Here’s how to get ready:
?? Wins: What accomplishments or milestones should you highlight?
?? Challenges: Where do you need support?
?? Alignment: What feedback or decisions are necessary to move forward?
The Manager’s Perspective
As a manager with a large team—half of whom report directly to me—I can’t track the details of everyone’s work. This makes 1:1s a crucial opportunity for you to ensure your contributions are visible and your value is clear.
For those with less frequent interactions with their skip-level manager, preparation is even more critical. If you’re not prepared, you’re missing a vital chance to control your narrative and showcase your impact.
Photo by The Jopwell Collection on Unsplash
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