Ep 490: Mastering Effective One-on-One Meetings with Drew McLellan

Feb 24, 2025

Explore the transformative power of one-on-one meetings with insights on why they should be integral to leadership strategies. Discover a practical framework that empowers team members to lead discussions while addressing personal check-ins and growth goals. Learn how fostering these connections can enhance agency culture and drive employee engagement. This approach not only mitigates challenges but also promotes continuous learning, ensuring that everyone, from new hires to veterans, stays invested in success.

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ADVICE

Make One-on-Ones Biweekly Rituals

Hold biweekly one-on-one meetings for 30 minutes with each employee as a non-negotiable leadership habit.
Let the employee lead and drive the meeting by scheduling it and completing a structured prep form in advance.

ADVICE

Set Growth Goals and Connect Personally

Start each one-on-one by sharing personal and professional wins since last meeting to deepen connection.
Set two quarterly growth goals together: one for professional development and one benefiting the agency.

ADVICE

Track Growth Goals for Accountability

Have employees report progress on their growth goals every meeting to encourage accountability.
Use goal completion as a factor in bonuses and to gauge employee commitment and engagement.

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In this episode of Build a Better Agency, Drew McLellan emphasizes the game-changing impact of one-on-one meetings and why agency owners should make them a non-negotiable part of their leadership strategy. Drawing from real-world agency experiences, Drew shares why these meetings serve as an "early warning radar system," helping leaders stay connected to their teams, strengthen workplace culture, and proactively address challenges before they escalate.

Drew outlines a structured yet simple framework for these biweekly, 30-minute meetings, highlighting that they are employee-driven—meaning the team member schedules the meeting, completes a structured form in advance, and leads the conversation. He breaks down the essential components of the form, including personal and professional check-ins, growth goal tracking, and opportunities for employees to share concerns, request support, and flag internal or client-related issues. By consistently implementing these meetings, agency owners can reduce day-to-day interruptions, foster deeper engagement, and cultivate a team that is both personally and professionally invested in the agency’s success.

If you’re struggling with employee engagement, culture-building, or leadership visibility, this episode provides a straightforward yet highly effective solution. Tune in to learn how to implement one-on-one meetings, access Drew’s updated meeting template, and start seeing immediate benefits in your agency.

A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

The value of one-on-one meetings for agency growth and employee development
Setting professional and agency-focused growth goals for employees
Encouraging accountability and preparation among team members
Building deeper connections through personal and professional check-ins
Enhancing employee support and addressing key issues effectively
The importance of employees driving their own career discussions
Leveraging one-on-one meetings to spot potential client or internal issues early