Meetings play a crucial role in team productivity and cohesion. They can drive collaboration, and improve communication and decision-making within teams. However, they can also feel like a waste of time if not conducted effectively.
According to the Harvard Business Review managers spend nearly 23 hours a week in meetings, up from less than 10 hours in the 1960s. Out of 182 senior managers interviewed, 71% said meetings are unproductive and inefficient, 65% said meetings keep them from completing their own work, and 62% feel they miss opportunities to bring the team closer together.
Given the vast amount of time spent in meetings and the frustrations expressed by managers about their effectiveness, it’s clear we need a better strategy. This leads us into the power of 1-on-1 meetings, which can turn these challenges into opportunities to connect and grow.
Let’s dive into how effective 1-on-1s can make meetings valuable again, improving life at work for both managers and their teams.
When conducted effectively, 1-on-1 meetings give managers a real sense of how team members are doing, help guide their growth, sort out any issues, and bring everyone closer together. For employees, these meetings are a chance to get the ongoing feedback they need to grow in their roles. They provide a private space to voice concerns and share successes, building a strong connection between managers and their teams.
Overall, these meetings are key for keeping everyone aligned and motivated. But what exactly happens in a one-on-one? It's a regular check-in where a manager and an employee can discuss everything from goals and feedback to personal development. The main aim is to keep communication flowing, make sure everyone is on the same track, and tackle any issues head-on. To make your next one-on-one as productive as possible, here are some best practices to follow:
🔁 Set these meetings in person or online, weekly or bi-weekly, customizing the frequency as needed for different team members.
✅ Create a collaborative meeting agenda. Use Candor to co-create 1-on-1 agendas where both sides add discussion points and keep track of topics.
✏️ Do any necessary preparation to make sure the meeting time is used efficiently.
🧭 Start on time and keep the meeting within 30-45 minutes to cover all topics thoroughly.
🤝 Keep it personal. Cover work as well as personal updates.
🎙 Engage in two-way communication. Ask insightful questions and listen actively.
Here’s a simple agenda template to help you get started:
Weekly or bi-weekly | 30-45 min
💡 Pro tip: Monthly or quarterly run a 1-on-1 focused on each one of you team members’ development and growth. Go deeper on recent achievements and milestones, challenges they’re facing, opportunities for growth, and set a plan for the next quarter.
Connect better and never lose track of your 1:1 with Candor. Pair with anyone on your team to co-create an agenda async—choose from a variety of topics from our library or customize your own agenda items in preparation for your meeting. Here’s how it works:
Meetings can be a great way to get everyone on the same page and get things done, but only if they're conducted properly. Crafting the right agendas is key to a productive meeting for both sides. Candor 1-on-1 agendas are easy to use and collaborative, allowing everyone in the team to create and keep track of ongoing discussion items.
Make the most out of your 1-on-1s. Sign up for Candor today!
Candor makes it easy to connect and have fun with your teammates, even while you’re remote. Use Candor to do feedback, shoutouts, check-ins, and more, all in one place.
Feel free to share questions or feedback with our team. We will be in touch within 1 business day.
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