One 45 minute catch-up (give or take a few minutes) has the potential to set the tone for the next 11 months and for you to learn what engages and challenges your people.
Here’s an easy framework and process – that works in person or virtually – to follow if you’re keen however wondering how to get started.
The Framework is four questions:
- What was your work highlight of 2022 and why?
- What was your work lowlight of 2022 and why?
- What are you most excited about for 2023?
- What are you most anxious about in 2023?
The Process:
- Send a 45 minute invite with the questions above.
- Ask your team members to reflect on their answers before the catch up. You do the same!
- At the catch up, decide who goes first. If you’re listening, listen to understand and without judgement. Do not try to problem solve or get defensive.
- When you’re sharing, be open, vulnerable (appropriately) and human.
- Finish up with a thank you and a time to catch up for the next 1:1 where you can start planning how to have more highlights and ease some anxieties.
Be Benefits:
This conversation opens up the opportunity to understand what motivates and grows your team members, helps you to understand your leadership opportunities, acts as a wellbeing check-in, paves the way for career development conversations, and creates alignment. There’s no downside!
If you’re longing to have this type of conversation with your leader however they haven’t initiated it yet, then be bold and set the meeting yourself.
Lastly, this framework and process works brilliantly in a team meeting setting with the added bonus of post-it notes! And who doesn’t love starting their year with a rainbow of post-it notes? (There are a couple of applications you can use with virtual post-it notes so don’t let distance be a barrier!)
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash