How Frequently to Hold 1:1s

Overview 

In this section, we'll be covering recommended intervals with 1:1s. Each of the other chapters are broken down into separate articles. 

If you would prefer to view this guide in its entirety and as a single .pdf, please download it by clicking the attachment below.

As we discussed earlier, there is a correlation between how frequently employees need feedback and the number of direct reports.

So, if a manager has just one direct report, she and her direct reports might be talking through issues frequently. Alternatively, a manager with ten or more direct reports needs to talk to each of them individually, but perhaps on a monthly basis. The most popular format for 1:1s is weekly, for 30 minutes, but we’ve also seen managers do 60-minute 1:1s (especially when it’s between a department head and mid-level managers).

It’s important to pick a frequency and length that works for you and your teams’ schedules. Sticking to this schedule is essential to seeing benefits from 1:1, or often they will be devalued and preparation diminishes.

At matrix organizations, depending on how big they are, it might be hard for managers to have weekly meetings with their direct reports. However, project leaders can help increase the frequency of these conversations too, so employees are heard by both formal and informal leaders. Examples and templates to help managers find the right frequency for their team, can be found in Reflektive’s 1:1s Implementation Guide for Managers.