Your 1-on-1s are status updates. Here's how to make them transformational. 🚀
Stop Asking: ❌ "How's your work going?" ❌ "Any blockers?" ❌ "What did you do this week?"
Start Asking:
📈 Growth & Development • "What's one thing you learned this week that excited you?" • "What skill do you want to develop that would have the biggest impact?" • "What would you like to be doing more of? Less of?"
🎯 Impact & Purpose • "How do you see your work connecting to our bigger goals?" • "What's the most valuable thing you contributed recently?" • "If you could change one thing about our codebase, what would it be?"
🤝 Team & Collaboration • "Who on the team has been helpful to you lately?" • "What's something you wish the team knew about your work?" • "How can I better support you in your current projects?"
💡 Innovation & Ideas • "What's a technology or approach you'd like us to experiment with?" • "What's an inefficiency you've noticed that we should address?" • "If you were leading this project, what would you do differently?"
🛠️ Technical Challenges • "What's the most interesting technical problem you're facing?" • "What's something in our codebase that confuses you?" • "What tools or processes would make your job easier?"
🎭 Career & Motivation • "What energizes you most about your work?" • "What does success look like for you this quarter?" • "What would make you excited to come to work on Monday?"
The Follow-Up Magic: Don't just ask—act on the answers: • Connect them with learning opportunities • Remove obstacles they mention • Recognize their contributions publicly • Follow up on previous conversations
The 70-20-10 Rule: • 70% listen and ask questions • 20% provide guidance and feedback • 10% status updates and logistics
Pro Tip: Keep a shared doc with notes. Nothing shows you care more than remembering what they told you last time.
Great 1-on-1s aren't about you getting information—they're about your team member gaining clarity, confidence, and connection.
What's your best 1-on-1 question? 💬