In between the Check-Ups

Adventures in Businessing: Entrepreneurship, Small Business, and a Healthy Dose of Humor

Show Notes

• [0:00:48] Episode Summary | Intro

• Standing Energy
• What Happens In Between F.I.T.ness Check-ups?

• [0:02:10] Recap of Last Episode’s Quarterly F.I.T.ness Check-in

• If you’re only having conversations every three months, or annually, something is wrong.

• [0:03:46] People Want Regular Feedback

• Team Members Want Clarity & Shared Understanding
• • Even if they’re low maintenance, and keep their head down, working hard...they still want and need the feedback.
• Why Weekly vs Less Frequently
• • Generally, the more frequently you meet, the shorter your meetings will be overall.
  • If you schedule weekly, and you have to miss one, you’re not losing alot, whereas if you miss a monthly, you could be letting major agenda topics slide by for too long.
• Don’t Make Your 1:1s All About Task LIsts & Project Management
• Stick to Your Time Frame
• • Don’t be afraid to push agenda items off to the following week’s 1:1.
  • It’s not the end of the world if you can’t meet for one week.
• Don’t Make it so Clinical That it’s Not Meaningful

• [0:11:45] On Misfit Pairings of Employee & Role

• • It’s so important to have and stick to an agenda for 1:1s.
• [0:13:20] Manager’s Guide to 1 on 1s
• • https://ciircles.com/1on1/
  • 1:1s are about establishing connection with your direct report:
  • • Establishing Empathy
    • Understanding Goals
    • Laying Growth Path
    • Providing Clarity
    • ...not just about the tasks & projects.
  • Invest Time and Energy in Your Team
  • • It’s Worth It

• [0:16:28] The Hard Truths

• It’s hard, it takes time, but it’s your job as a manager and/or leader.
• Do it right and you have allies in the business, do it wrong (or not at all) and you have opponents.

• [0:17:58] Is There an Ideal Number of Direct Reports?

• 20% of your time should ideally be spent on nurturing your communication and connection with your team members.

• [0:19:28] Don’t Let Your 1:1s be Manager Driven

• Let Your Team Members Set the Agenda
• You Will Have to Train Team Members on How the 1:1 Works
• • Communicate and Enforce What the 1:1 is For, The Purpose & Goal
  • • Some will take to this really quickly, for others it will take time and experience.
• 1:1s Are a Great Way to Practice Collaboration
• Active Listening & Taking Notes is Powerful for You and the Employee’s Rapport
• • Actually caring, and listening is a very good thing.

• [0:26:12] Think About the Best Manager You Ever Had

• Odds are that one of the things that made them the best was that they genuinely cared about and believed in you.
• You May be a Diamond in the Rough
• • Let’s be honest, there are those who establish routine communication and good rapport so well, so regularly, that they may not need an explicit weekly 1:1.
• Be the Manager Who Remembers Your Team Members’ Children’s Names

• [0:28:33] Parting Words | Recap

• It can seem like alot of work, but remember...it IS the work.
• https://ciircles.com/1on1/
• Next Episode Topic: Communication