Are you getting the most out of your 1:1 meetings with your boss? If you leave these meetings thinking, That’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back then it’s time to evaluate how to make things better. Believe it or not, face time with your direct supervisor can be worthwhile, if you’re willing to make a few tweaks. Read on to see if any of these barriers are standing in the way.
[Related: Are YOU the boss? Here’s how to breathe new life into your 1:1 meetings]
Letting the Boss Call All the Meeting Shots
Are you thinking, “What 1:1 meeting? The only time I see my boss is when there’s a problem,” then you have your work cut out for you. But just because there isn’t a consistent meeting time set up with your team leader doesn’t mean there can’t be. You’ll need to take the initiative and request that a meeting schedule be set. Most likely you’ll need to “sell” this a bit – be ready with reasons why it benefits your boss, such as quicker decision-making on his or her part, your improved productivity or heading off problems at the pass. You might think, “Why should I have to sell this? Isn’t it my boss’s job to stay in contact with me?” Yep, it sure is, but remember: communication is a two-way street. If you focus on what your boss “should” do, and wait for him or her to wake up and get with it, you will not get the attention you need to grow your career
