- [Narrator] Want to know what makes a great one-on-one? It's not opening your office door and inviting your team member to take a seat on a chair five-inches shorter and $500 less expensive than yours. It's picking an environment where you can meet as equals, either online or offline. 

It's not finding time between your high-powered meetings and your country club membership to ask how many deals someone has closed or orders they've fulfilled. It's setting up recurring meetings without distractions where you can give your team member your full attention. 

It's not an opportunity for you to run through a list of issues or impart the wisdom of your many years spent in an enviable state of consistent excellence. But it is asking your team members to contribute to a shared agenda in advance, and allowing them to do most of the talking. 

It's not an opportunity to catch up as buddies or gossip about how Brian in accounts finally got that thing removed from his nose and didn't it look painful? It's about creating a safe space for you both to discuss issues, set clear responsibilities, and agree on next steps. 

So what are you waiting for? Set up your next one-on-one now! And make sure it's safe, consistent, planned and productive. © 2022 Mind Tools by Emerald Works Limited.