Preparing for Your One-to-One

Connect learning to your work

A practical place
to begin.

Use shared time for the topics that need it

A one-to-one can become a routine list of updates while an important question remains unasked. This Skill Lab helps you prepare the topics that need discussion, a decision or support. It focuses on your contribution to the conversation and the information that will help the other person respond usefully.

Consider an illustrative meeting with your manager when a project is progressing but a dependency is becoming uncertain. Separate the update that can be read beforehand from the issue that needs a conversation. Prepare an example, explain what you have tried and state the decision or perspective you need.

Leave with a shared next step

Choose a small number of priorities for the agenda and make room for the other person's topics. At the end, summarize the decisions, your next action and any support promised. If a subject needs more time, agree on how it will be continued rather than letting it disappear into a general follow-up. The practice can help with a new or established reporting relationship. It does not require a rigid agenda; the purpose is to make limited shared time more useful for the work and your development.

Topics to explore

Your learning focus.

Start where you are

Who it’s for.

Individual contributors preparing to meet their manager

Bring a workplace situation you want to approach differently. We can discuss your experience, priorities and the support that would be useful before agreeing on delivery.

Learning that fits your context

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