In partnership with
Leadership Challenge - "WHAT IS THE ONE MEETING YOU NEVER SKIP WITH YOUR KEY PEOPLE?"
Answer: The one-on-one.
Every week.
Same time.
No exceptions.
This is where you build trust.
Where you hear problems early.
Where you coach.
Where you develop people.
If you're skipping one-on-ones, you're not leading.
You're managing from a distance.
That doesn't work.
One-on-ones are sacred.
Protect them like your job depends on it. It does.
Question to Consider: When's the last time you skipped a one-on-one?
Why: Skipping one-on-one tells your team they're not important.
Here's what's happening: you have a one-on-one scheduled.
Something urgent comes up.
You cancel.
You think it's fine.
It's one week.
They'll understand.
But they don't.
They hear: "You're not important."
Do it twice, they're sure.
Do it three times, they stop caring.
They stop bringing problems to you. They stop asking for help. They disengage.
The cost? You lose visibility into your team. Problems fester.
By the time you hear about them, they're crises. Your best people feel ignored. They leave.
The ones who stay are the ones comfortable being ignored. You've created a disconnected team.
All because you didn't protect your one-on-one. You treated them like optional. They're not. They're the foundation of leadership.
Everything important happens in one-on-ones. Skip them, and you're leading blind.
Action: Lock your one-on-ones today.
Same time every week.
Block the time as "unavailable."
Treat them like board meetings.
Never cancel unless it's an emergency.
Show your team they matter by showing up consistently.
Use the time to coach, not just get updates.
Ask: "What's hard right now?" "What do you need from me?"
Listen more than you talk.
Stay Unfiltered,
— Andy
P.S. Everything important happens in one-on-ones. Skip them, and you're leading blind.
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