CAREER · MANAGING UP
How to prepare for a one-on-one with your manager
Your one-on-one is your meeting, not your manager’s. If you arrive with nothing, it becomes a status update. If you arrive with a short list, it becomes the most useful 30 minutes of your week.
Bring a short list
- One win since last time (managers forget, so remind them).
- One thing you are stuck on, and what you need.
- One question about priorities or the bigger picture.
- Once a month: one thing about your growth.
Questions to ask your manager
What are your priorities this month, and how can my work help?
Is there anything I should be doing differently?
What would make you confident to give me more responsibility?
Is there a project coming up I could take the lead on?
How do you like to receive bad news or problems?
Raising a problem
Describe what is happening, the effect on your work, and one option you suggest. Managers react better to a problem with a proposal.
After the meeting
- Write down any actions, yours and theirs.
- Send a two-line summary if anything was agreed.
- Follow up next time on what they promised.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
What if my manager keeps cancelling?
Ask to keep a shorter, regular slot rather than skipping, and explain how useful you find it.
What if I have nothing to talk about?
Use the time for feedback or career questions. Those conversations are the ones that pay off over time.
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