Meeting One On One

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

• John Maxwell (b. 1947), American leadership icon, author, speaker, and pastor

So, as we reach the 80% point of a weeklong rant about meetings, let’s get to the nitty gritty.

No, not THAT nitty gritty!

The most important meetings we participate in are the one-on-ones we have with the people we lead. So, let’s get them right.

• 1) Make it about THEM.
• 2) Ask first about feelings, then about facts.
• 3) Make the agenda them-focused. What’s on YOUR mind? How are YOU feeling?
• 4) Hit on no more than three previously agreed-upon metrics.
• 5) Ask how you can help.
• 6) Either do what’s asked, or make sure they understand what you will or won’t do on their behalf.
• 7) Covey: Seek first to understand, then be understood.

The most valuable insight we get from the market should come from the people we’ve placed closest to the market. Don’t allow your one-on-ones to become sermons or directives. Save directives for last measures and save sermons for the folks who went to seminary.

I’ll send you my “almost copyrighted” one-on-one template if you’d like. Just let me know in the reply box below if you’d like it.

^{Almost? Do you know how much it costs to get over that last hurdle to copyright? Doh! If you’re really ready to get busy, I’ll also send you my equally-almost-copyrighted sales interview template!}