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ONE-ON-ONE QUESTIONS · 13 QUESTIONS

Questions to ask your team for feedback on your management

Your team sees your blind spots every day, but few will raise them unprompted. Asking specific questions, and reacting well to the answers, is the fastest way to become a better manager. Ask one of these at the end of a one-on-one every few weeks.

Specific, easy-to-answer questions

  • What is one thing I could do to make your job easier?
  • Is there anything I do that slows you down?
  • What should I start, stop or continue doing?
  • Do I give you enough context on why we are doing things?
  • Is there a decision I made recently that you disagreed with?

Feedback and recognition

  • Do you get enough feedback from me? Is it specific enough?
  • When did you last feel your work was recognised?
  • Is there feedback you have been holding back?

The team

  • How could our team meetings be more useful?
  • What is one thing about how this team works that you would change?
  • Do you feel you can disagree with me openly?
  • If you were managing this team, what would you do differently?
  • What is something I do that you would like other managers to copy?

How to run it

  • Say "thank you" first, whatever you hear. Then ask a follow-up question. Never defend or explain.
  • Act on one thing quickly and tell them you did. That is what makes people keep giving feedback.
  • Ask the same question to several people to see whether it is a pattern.

What to avoid

  • Asking "any feedback for me?" (it gets "no, all good").
  • Arguing with the feedback.
  • Asking and then never changing anything.

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Build the agenda and keep your notes

Add these questions to a one-on-one agenda in the free notebook, take notes in the meeting, and carry the actions to next time.

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