Interactions as investments

Let’s talk about scheduled 1:1 conversations between manager and employee 

Who owns that time -The manager or the employee?

Who sets the agenda?

What is the objective?

How often is enough?

How long is enough?


Those of you who have been in any of my leadership sessions would know just how crazy I am about this ...

This time with your team member is NON NEGOTIABLE 

It is THEIR time and it is their agenda. You may added to it IF a they agree and there is time. 

This is the time for you to spend in building a relationship and your own credibility as a manager and then as a leader. 

A frontline (FL) manager of people must invest 60 minutes per person per month. 

A level 2 ( manager of FL Managers) manager must plan for 90 mins per FLM per month

A level 3 ( manager of a L2M) must invest 120 minutes per manager per month

CXOs and 2 levels below must have at least 120 minutes a month with their managers. 

This is one of the ways of planning your span, if you can’t make this time for your directs then you are over staffed or not efficient or effective as a manager or leader. 

These are not just random numbers. The time you spend with each person is the INVESTMENT

The structure of the 1:1 interaction is critical to the success of the interaction. 

Is it planned?

Is it predictable?

Does it provide for adequate time for both to speak?

Does it provide for planning and review? 

Does it have time for building on the relationship?

We spoke earlier on the ownership and the time invested. The structure is as important, it makes the interaction predictable and creates a sense of security. 

A good rule of thumb is the 2/3-1/3 principle. 

Dedicate two thirds of the total time to transactional discussion follow up and plan and guard the a third of the time religiously for personal development and relationship building. 

Plan to speak for only 1/3 of the the scheduled time and LISTEN for 2/3 of the slot. 

Keep the agenda short so that there are no more than 2-3 items to discuss in any transactional discussion. 

The total time investment per month need not be for a single meeting, spread it out over the 4 weeks or even 2 weeks as your calendar permits. 

More on how my team held up a mirror to my face for me to learn, probably the most important lesson of my leadership journey...” Be present -physically & emotionally, respect my team members time with me - always and every time”


#leadershiplessons 

#developingleaders 

#ramdoMusings

#teamdevelopment

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