The Seven Habits of Successful Leaders in One-on-One Meetings

Business isn't a caste system; it's people working together in collaborative settings.

Successful leaders also understand the need to take the time to meet with their team members individually to maintain open lines of communication, high levels of team morale, and on-time project completion. 

They are also aware that one-on-one communication is the only way to truly comprehend each person and any important information they may be holding onto.

Here are seven one-on-one meeting practices of successful leaders that you may incorporate into your daily routine in light of these advantages.

1. They Regularly Gather

Leaders need to make a decision and make long-term plans for how frequently you want to check in with your team, whether that is once a month, twice a month, or even weekly. Holding these sessions more frequently might be a good idea if your industry changes quickly.

Schedule each one-on-one meeting in your calendar and ask your team members to do the same to establish this habit.

2. They Arrive Well-Prepared

The fact that you are a leader does not excuse you from conducting research.

Make sure you are familiar with someone before meeting with them. It includes knowing their name, exact position within the organization, any unique skills they may possess, and any challenges a leaders must be aware of.

Make notes about their profiles and list five or six things you'd like to discuss about in person. You might also ask the employee to provide a list of a few things they'd like to discuss. This will not only make your meeting more time-effective, but it will also ensure that you both know what you want to say.

3. They Avoid Making Meetings Too Formal

Think of having a casual meeting, perhaps on your way to a coffee or during a quick campus tour. It sets a more informal tone and allows you a chance to connect with the other person.

Leaders more likely to obtain sincere, priceless input from them, and you may collaborate on coming up with solutions to any problems they might be having. You might be able to provide that person with an urgent solution that they would not have otherwise known about or been able to access.

If you've never held a casual one-on-one meeting before, practice with a coworker before experimenting with your team.

4. They Pose Intelligent Questions

Regular one-on-one meetings with your team will result in better relationship-building and understanding of your team and business than a performance evaluation.

Setting one or two goals in advance might keep the conversation on course and benefit all parties.

Do you have a particular project you'd like to learn more about? As a leader, would you like to learn more about the postmortem of a failed initiative? Do you need to know how brand-new team members integrate into their surroundings?

Imagine what it would be like to be a leader with a pulse on everything happening within the organization. Start by jotting down any rhetorical queries you have about your team's work in progress.

Now that you have a channel to ask them, you can.

5. They Promote Collaboration

Since no man is an island, success is typically the result of collaboration. One-on-one conversations offer a fantastic chance to promote compatibility and teamwork within the group. If there is a professional rift or separation between you and your employees, they are far more likely to reveal such information in private than in a formal staff meeting.

Put a lot of effort into building camaraderie among the team members as you see how they interact with one another and why they don't.

6. They Engage In Accountability And Empathy

While building a solid rapport with their team personally is crucial for leaders, maintaining responsibility is just as crucial for everyone.

If a person is content and his task is demanding, he will probably overproduce. However, other people require more rigidity to succeed.

Create this behavior by highlighting areas that require accountability but always combine it with empathy. For instance, "Sarah, it appears that the XYZ project is lagging." To ensure that progress is made as planned, we'd like to begin doing weekly check-in reports. Do you have any ideas for materials we could provide you with?

Clearly define your expectations while also providing your support.

7. They Create Connections

Building rapport and showing a genuine interest in your team are the foundations of good relationships. At the very least, try to have a rough idea of each person's personality, motivations, one or two interests, and principal job function within the organization. Of course, as leader you should also know their names!

Relationship building is important not just between leaders and their teams but also among team members. Unnecessary barriers will fall, and more innovation will be inspired once workers realize that you genuinely care about them and their well-being, which will eventually help the business succeed.

Conclusion 

One-on-ones could be challenging at first, but after doing them frequently, they will come naturally. The advantages will tremendously increase when you as a leader discover how to customize them for particular situations or employees.

Book your appointment today and let the professionals at KLB Solutions LLC help you achieve the success of your company!