One to One Meetings

To be used in conjunction with the 1st Class HR ‘One to One Meetings’ Management Guide available at www.1stclasshr.co.uk

This session focuses the tools and techniques that managers can use to

ensure that they have effective one to one (121) meetings with staff.

Learning Objectives

• To learn how to hold effective one to one meetings

• To understand the roles and responsibilities of staff and managers

One to one meetings

Holding regular, structured 121 meetings with direct reports can be regarded as the most

important thing a manager does and the most effective way of improving and maintaining

performance.

The rationale

Strong, consistent performance

Quality and quantity of communication

Strong professional relationship

High levels of trust and respect

The basics

• There are many formats for 121s. The important thing is that, whatever the format, they have as their goal to encourage performance through regular, quality communication.

• What follows is a suggested format which honours the basic principles of a 121 meeting.

WASP

• Welcome – put your team member at ease• Acquire – review current performance, give

recognition of achievements and success• Supply – set revised standards and deadlines

for objectives• Part – summarise main points and review

plans made

121 Format

• Regular – meet at least once per month• Timings – meet for approximately 30 minutes,

but adapt the timeframe to suit the discussion• Environment – meet in a quiet and appropriate

environment, such as an office meeting room• No Interruptions – switch off phones and don’t

allow any interruptions or distractions

121 Format

• Listen – this is not the time to stream information, but to allow the employee to talk to you about their thoughts, feelings, actions or concerns

• Coach – provide feedback to the employee adopting a coaching style

• Record – take notes, this is a professional meeting rather than a chat.

Top Tip…

Encourage the employee to talk openly to you by starting the meeting with one of the following questions…

1. What do you want to talk about today?2. What’s on your agenda?3. So, how are things?

Learning Outcomes

You are now able to…

• hold effective one to one meetings

You now know/understand…

• the roles and responsibilities of staff and managers

Thank you

For more information about performance management, including a sample policy

and procedure, go to www.1stclasshr.co.ukOr call on 01362 680009.