#133: How to Run the Most Effective 1:1 Meetings of Your Career

Published: Oct. 8, 2018, 10 a.m.

Seeking Wisdom is back to discuss the importance of 1:1 meetings – what they are, why you and your team need them, the best 1:1 formats and more. Hint: As a manager, these meetings are all about listening and roadblock removal. Also in this episode, “skip 1 meetings” plus go inside DC and DG’s own 1:1 meetings – and DC’s format to steal for your own company. In this episode: Format Tips for Successful 1:1s Strive for weekly 1:1s with direct reports, every other week if you have to Embrace “skip 1 meetings” where you meet every two weeks or once a month with anyone else on the team Keep them casual – go for a walk to get coffee or a juice, get in a room to whiteboard, don’t write everything down, listen instead – this is not an interrogation! Encourage your direct reports to talk by embracing the silence, give them the room they need to talk. Tips for Direct Reports: Come to the meeting prepared with agenda – DG uses Evernote Notebooks to record what he wants to talk about. Go to the meeting with the top 3 things you want to discuss. If it’s nothing specific, but you want a check in, go for a walk. If you don’t have anything particular, it’s okay to skip these meetings occasionally. Books mentioned in this episode: High Output Management by Andrew Grove Before you go: Join the B2B Marketing Mastermind group on Facebook! Email dg@drift.com to get on the list. Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and share the pod with your friends! Be sure to check out more insights on 1:1 meetings on the Drift blog at drift.com/blog and find us on Twitter @davegerhardt, @dcancel and @seekingwisdomio.