How to start your next 1 on 1

This week, the Daily Tip is covering Susan Scott’s 5 suggestions for clear communication during one-on-one meetings with supervisees or supervisors. (These tips, by the way, are just as helpful with personal relationships).

Suggestion #2: Ditch the checklist

She says, “If you get in the habit of constantly relying on a list to dictate your one-on-one conversations, you may miss something altogether.”

In fact, a recent study noted that less than 2% of conversations ended when both parties wanted it to. (Psychology Today, July/August 2021).

If your one-on-one check-in is just a rundown of a task list, you may fail to bring up bigger, lurking issues that your team member or boss is wrestling with.

Instead, start with an open-ended question.

She suggests starting with some version of: “Given everything else that’s on your plate, what’s the most important thing we should be talking about today?”

Scared to do this? Let them know ahead of time that you’ll be asking.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss being present...yes that means turning off your screens.

Adapted from Fierce Conversations, by Susan Scott.