Over the years, annual reviews have proven to fail in providing feedback that employees need to enhance performance. One thing that companies have added to help employees improve their performance are weekly one-on-one meetings. Every member of an organization can experience value over time from a regular one-on-one meeting.
How can one-on-one meetings impact an employee?
Employees who are independent still need feedback. Even if an employee relies on their creativity for problem-solving, there are still barriers they will face from inside an organization like red tape, or access to other teams for collaboration. The structure of a one-on-one allows for employees to get a second look at the challenges they are facing. The point is not for a manager to correct the employee’s course of action but to work as a partner in helping to pave the way to success.
A weekly one-on-one can also be an environment for an employee to feel safe in discussing career development with their manager. If the employee hopes to receive a promotion, it is helpful to break out the skills needed to move to the next level and invest time in developing those skills and assessing relevant opportunities for growth. A huge piece of motivation and employee engagement is knowing you’re contributing to the company’s success.
What is the manager’s role in providing a successful one-on-one?
A manager is responsible for key deliverables, and any manager is only as successful as their team. It is up to the manager to be a coach and help encourage their team to achieve the greatest results. Managers regularly get busy on their deliverables and their day-to-day responsibilities and slip up on checking in on their team. By scheduling weekly one-on-one’s, it ensures that they take the time to manage and help nurture their team. This time is also used to coach employees and develop a connection. In a group setting much like a team meeting or scrum, team members must compete for airtime. A one-on-one meeting enables each team member to be heard and have any concerns addressed. For an employee to become empowered, they must feel valued.
What is the Company’s role in providing a successful one-on-one?
The largest cost for most businesses is employee’s salaries. It costs more to replace an employee than it does to retain one. The key to driving employees is the ability for a company to have a vision and transparency as well as showing employees that they are making a difference. One-on-ones are an efficient way of ensuring that information and knowledge are trickling down throughout the organization.
At KTL Solutions, we have implemented one-on-one meetings with each individual employee and their managers. It has been increasingly effective on communication, work ethic, and overall success for the company. If you would like to talk further on the benefits of one-on-one meetings, please contact KTL Solutions at info@ktlsolutions.com.
COLLEEN WILLIAMS | COO/ Consultant Lead
Colleen graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from California State University San Bernardino. She has extensive accounting experience over the past years working as a staff accountant and controller. Colleen has over 10 years Great Plains experience and over 6 years of working with BI360, which includes many implementations for public and private companies. She also has extensive experience with Business Intelligence, budgeting and report writing while working on BI360, QuickBooks, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Timberline and Solomon. Colleen has worked in various industries that include: real estate, property management, timeshare sales, publishing, and insurance. These various industries have given her the necessary experience to handle large company consolidations and report writing, budgeting and forecasting, project accounting, sales invoice processing, and fixed assets.
