536: How to Make One-on-Ones Valuable, with Jonathan Raymond
Jul 19, 2021
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Jonathan Raymond, founder of Refound, discusses the importance of starting with role purpose in one-on-ones. Emphasizes elevation, curiosity, and flexibility in meetings. Few managers excel at this but small improvements yield big results in retention.
Begin with the purpose of the role to drive clarity and personal growth expectations in one-on-ones.
Utilize curiosity to align on expectations and elevate conversations towards linking personal growth with professional activities.
Deep dives
The Importance of Conducting Meaningful One-on-One Meetings
Ensuring that one-on-one meetings are valuable and purposeful is crucial for effective leadership. Jonathan Raymond emphasizes the significance of establishing a structured approach to one-on-ones. By focusing on good alignment and accountability, these meetings can lead to meaningful conversations that drive personal growth and alignment with organizational objectives.
Structuring One-on-Ones for Success
Jonathan Raymond suggests a facilitative approach to one-on-ones, guiding the conversation towards growth themes and connection to daily tasks. He advocates for actively engaging with team members to elevate the conversation, rather than passively waiting for them to lead. Balancing the frequency of one-on-ones is critical, with a focus on maintaining meaningful discussions without overwhelming schedules.
Integrating Personal Growth in Professional Development
Jonathan Raymond stresses the integration of personal growth within professional development conversations. By linking individual growth themes to daily tasks and projects, managers can create a more engaging and purposeful work environment. This approach fosters deeper connections with team members, leading to increased engagement and retention.
Tools for Effective Alignment and Accountability
In the 'Good Alignment' course, Jonathan Raymond provides a practical tool for identifying role purposes and growth themes. This tool facilitates conversations around team members' roles, objectives, and personal growth aspirations. By leveraging this tool, managers can align individual goals with organizational objectives, fostering a culture of continuous learning and personal development.
Jonathan Raymond: Good Authority
Jonathan Raymond is the founder of Refound, where he and his team work with organizations to create a company culture based in personal growth. He’s the author of the book Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team Is Waiting For*. He's also the creator of the Accountability Dial and the courses Good Accountability and Good Alignment.
In this conversation, Jonathan and I discuss the importance of starting with the purpose for a role when considering how to approach one-on-ones. We frame the importance of elevation and linking professional activities with personal growth. Plus, we invite leaders to begin with a few, practical steps.
Key Points
Begin with the purpose of the role. Clarity on expectations and personal growth will both come from there.
Utilize curiosity to begin to align on expectations and what’s next.
Elevation is a key competency for managers in one-on-ones. Help employees link what the role needs and how their personal growth aligns to it.
Be willing to stay flexible on how often and how long you meet for. There are times when more interaction may be wise, but one-on-ones should not take over your professional life as a manager.
Few managers do this well. Even small movement to get better at supporting your employees can provide big returns in retention.
Resources Mentioned
Good Alignment course*
Good Accountability course*
Good Authority: How to Become the Leader Your Team Is Waiting For by Jonathan Raymond
Related Episodes
How to Balance Care and Accountability When Leading Remotely, with Jonathan Raymond (episode 464)
How to Define a Role, with Pat Griffin (episode 517)
How to Help People Thrive, with Jim Harter (episode 532)
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