Courses

Safety Training

HR Compliance
Training

Soft Skills
Training
OSHA Requirements
Training

Search By Industry

Course Packages

About Us

Resources

Contact Us

April 11, 2025

How to Lead One-on-Ones That Employees Actually Look Forward To

Let’s be real, one-on-ones can either be game-changing conversations or glorified calendar clutter. When done right, they’re like espresso shots for your workplace culture: energizing, focused, and impossible to ignore. Ready to turn check-ins into real connection? Let’s shake up your manager mindset.

Stop waiting for disaster to strike before having a real convo

One-on-ones aren’t just crisis response meetings. They’re routine relationship-building tools, and yes, skipping them is like ignoring an oil light on your dashboard. Eventually, something’s gonna break.

If employees seem nervous about one-on-ones, it’s probably not their fault

Step away from the laptop and actually listen, like you mean it

Documentation isn’t just CYA, it’s how you prove you actually care

Before the meeting

After the meeting

One-on-ones don’t always go according to script, and that’s okay

When things get real, here’s what to remember

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to level up

1. Use tech to connect the dots

2. Don’t clone your conversations

3. Growth shouldn’t be optional, it should be expected

Your one-on-ones aren’t just meetings, they’re culture in action

Every check-in, every follow-up, every “How’s it going?” builds the trust your team needs to thrive. Leadership isn’t about giving orders, it’s about creating space where people can actually grow. So lead smarter, listen better, and take your 1:1s from awkward to awesome.

Before you wrap this up, take the next step with leadership that actually leads

For those ready to move beyond one-on-ones and into next-level leadership habits, check out the Workplace Leadership Safety: Transitional Steps Training Course. It’s designed to help you manage transitions, lead through change, and guide teams like a pro.

Expand your knowledge with the Strategies for Success Training Course

The Effective One-on-Ones for Managers: Strategies for Success Training Course goes even deeper into the skills and mindset shifts that turn casual check-ins into real leadership wins. Take the course, show up for your people, and build the kind of team every manager wishes they had.


References

Related Courses