One-on-one meetings (typically called "1:1s") are recurring private meetings between a manager and a direct report, usually held weekly for 30-45 minutes. They are designed for individual coaching, blocker removal, career development, relationship-building, and bidirectional feedback rather than status updates or task tracking (which should happen in async tools or team meetings). They're the most-cited single management practice that distinguishes effective managers from ineffective ones.
The structure that works:
Cadence: weekly is standard. Bi-weekly for some senior reports. Monthly is too infrequent for most direct reports.
Length: 30 minutes minimum, 45 ideal, 60 for new hires or complex relationships.
Time o...