4 Steps to Creating Effective One-on-Ones With Your Staff

You know you should be spending one-on-one time with each staff member to ensure they’re on track. The trouble is, your schedule is already filled and you don’t see it clearing up anytime soon.

It’s true these meetings can be time-consuming. But as one of the leading staffing agencies in Houston, TX, Murray Resources knows if you don’t check in periodically with your people, you’ll miss out on an opportunity to provide timely feedback, while also motivating and encouraging them. To help you conduct effective one-on-ones with your staff, here are 4 steps to follow:

#1: Create a schedule…and stick to it.

Don’t expect to conduct meetings on the fly. Something will always get in the way. Instead, create a schedule for your one-on-ones and stick to it. You can create a weekly schedule, or a monthly or quarterly one – whatever works for you. Just put it on the schedule so both you and your employee can prepare for it. If you don’t, or if you regularly cancel, your employee won’t take the process seriously.

#2: Create a loose agenda.

There might be certain issues you want to bring up during a meeting. Make sure you create a loose agenda so you don’t forget about these important points. However, also schedule in time for you and your employee to speak freely. Remember, this isn’t a one-way conversation; your employees should feel comfortable bringing up their own issues, concerns and ideas.

#3: Create a distraction-free zone.

Don’t schedule a meeting, but then check your phone or email every five minutes. Or leave your door open so anyone can interrupt. It’s distracting to your employee and also rude. Instead, be mentally present so you can spend the time necessary with each employee and demonstrate your commitment to them. When you’re not distracted, you and your employee will both get more out of each meeting.

#4: Create a plan of action.

Before you wrap up the meeting, talk about next steps. For the best results, you should also follow up with your employee via email restating these action steps. That way, everyone is on the same page and clear about what they’re supposed to do and by when.

The bottom line? One-on-ones are a great tool for managers. They can help keep your employees engaged, while also demonstrating how much you value them.

Do you need help recruiting and hiring engaged employees for your team? Call the experts at Murray Resources. As one of the leading staffing agencies in Houston, TX, organizations all over the city rely on our expertise to source and retain top talent for hard-to-fill, key positions across a broad range of business disciplines. Contact us today to find out more.