6 Tips for Productive 1:1 Meetings with Your Manager
About this video
Jeff Su shares six tips for productive 1:1 meetings with your manager, drawn from what he describes as eight years of corporate life, four companies and nine managers, arguing that being consistent and organized in 1:1s earns you more flexibility in business decisions. Before the meeting: lock a regular calendar slot — he cites Google Re:Work, Kim Scott’s Radical Candor and other workplace research for a sweet spot of every week or two for 30 to 60 minutes; set expectations about content, such as splitting business updates and professional development; tell your manager your communication style; and keep one document for all agendas, notes and action items — his is a spreadsheet with four columns (date, agenda, notes and action items), embedded in the calendar invite, with a pre-read emailed ahead for topics needing context like performance reviews. During business updates, use Rose, Thorn and Bud: a win, a challenge presented with a possible solution you brainstormed, and a new idea or learning you want input on. Afterwards, spend 10 minutes reviewing notes, prioritize and schedule your action items, carry unfinished items into next week’s agenda, and politely nudge your manager a few days before the next meeting if they owe you a follow-up.
Key takeaways
- Lock a recurring 1:1 slot of 30 to 60 minutes every week or two, and agree in advance how time splits between business updates and professional development.
- Keep one shared document for every meeting’s date, agenda, notes and action items, embed it in the calendar invite, and send a pre-read for complex topics.
- Tell your manager your communication style — for example whether you prefer direct, unfiltered feedback or more context and discussion first.
- Use Rose, Thorn and Bud for business updates: a win (crediting your manager’s earlier advice where possible), a challenge paired with a proposed solution, and a new idea.
- Afterwards spend 10 minutes reviewing notes, schedule time for your action items, roll unfinished items into next week’s agenda, and nudge your manager on their items a few days early.
Episode details: published October 5, 2021 · 6:18 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Jeff Su’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.
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