Meetings have gotten a bad rap over the years, and in many cases justifiably so.  When we consider the amount of time spent by corporate executives and managers in non-productive meetings, and the collective costs involved, it’s clear that many organizations can benefit from re-thinking and re-designing the nature and “rhythm” of their corporate meetings. Having said this, I still believe there is one type of meeting that is often under-utilized and can add value to many organizations:  the “One-to-One.” As the name implies, it’s a periodic (monthly, for ex.) session in which a leader or manager meets with his or her direct reports individually.  The overall context is one of coaching, asking questions, listening and supporting.  “From your standpoint, what’s working well?  What’s not?  What’s the status of key action items in progress?  How can I do my job better?  What do you see that I may not see… and that I may need to address?  How are relationships and coordination with others inside and outside of your specific department?  What are the priorities for the next 30 days?” Every organization is different, of course, and in my view there’s no single “right” way to incorporate these into your workplace.  However, for those who do, the benefits can be substantial:  improved productivity and accountability; better clarity and shared understanding about key influencers of performance; a dedicated forum for working on individual learning and development goals; and improved working relationships with direct reports. [wpsc_products category_id='80' ]