On 1-1s: don't miss your chance to shine
On 1-1s: don't miss your chance to shine
A quick reflection on 1-on-1s. It's frustrating to see people not fully grasping how powerful they can be.
Over the past few years, I've had hundreds of recurring 1-on-1 meetings with my direct reports. How many of those were truly useful? If I had to guess, less than 10%.
Yes, that's right. Hundreds of hours were put into something that was often no more than casual conversation.
Now, don't get me wrong - I love talking to people. Understanding their lives, what they do outside work, and what drives them is crucial for building strong, long-term relationships. But that's only one aspect of a 1-on-1. When doing my first 1-1 with my reports, I usually start with: "This is your meeting to lead, and I expect you to come up with an agenda." If casual conversation is part of that agenda, that's fine - let's dive in. But more often than not, chit-chat happens when there's no agenda at all.
This is about YOUR career.
It might be cliché, but if I had to give one piece of advice to engineers, it'd be one: ENGAGE with your manager!
It's surprising how many people don't realize this:
Your manager genuinely wants you to succeed. Most managers are driven by their team's achievements, and even if that's not their primary motivation, they're still evaluated based on their performance.
Ultimately, you are the owner of your career. No one else will do the work for you; everyone's busy managing their own responsibilities. Early in your career, your manager might guide you or help you find suitable projects, but as you grow more senior, the expectations shift. You're expected to spot and tackle challenges on your own. Don't wait for problems to be noticed: go after them and solve them.
If you don't take the initiative, someone else will. It's a hard reality, but there are only so many high-impact opportunities in most workplaces. If you're not actively seeking them, someone else will step in, which could affect your career. Taking ownership and being proactive in your professional growth is crucial.
Engineer's Swiss Army tool n.1: the 1-to-1
What do 1-on-1s have to do with all this? Your manager is likely juggling a lot, so it's up to you to take control and make 1-on-1s your most valuable tool:
Come prepared with an agenda.
Discuss your career, where you want to go, and what steps you take to get there. Make time for giving and receiving feedback.
Your goal is to stand out. Do whatever it takes to ensure your manager sees you as a top performer.
And don't overlook the casual conversations. Building strong relationships is critical: they can open doors you might not expect.