You probably think you communicate regularly and effectively with all your direct reports. What would they say? My sense from working with a lot of team members just below the CEO is that they have a different opinion. The next level down is more lost and so on and so on. Improving that one practice may be the most significant step you can take to improving employee engagement and agility within your company. If you have those, you have the secret sauce.
Let’s say you have a weekly 1-2-1 for 15 minutes with each of your direct reports. Are you clear on the agenda in the 1-2-1’s? Are you covering the right things? Many people use the 1-2-1 to review progress on projects and other tactical issues. That must be done, no question. In my opinion, those are not 1-2-1’s. Those are update meetings. And, yes they are necessary. Just don’t confuse that meeting with a 1-2-1.
The agenda of the 1-2-1 belongs to the direct report. It is their time to ask you for help, mentoring, feedback, etc. Your role is to listen intently and mentor. Please do this at least once each month – even if it is just one of those weekly 15 minute meetings. If you need to make that a 30 minute meeting, do it. And, don’t run over them. Often, the CEO has so many questions and so much curiosity they can’t stop interrupting. This is NOT helpful.
Get out of your comfort zone and listen. If you really want to grow your team to replace yourself, give them some space and coaching. Stay focused on the strategic goal: to improve employee engagement and the agility of your organization.
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