You're Spending Hours in 1:1s. Are They Actually Working?

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‍Because No One Teaches You How to Run a Great 1:1

When I first became a manager, I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping weekly 1:1s in the calendar.

I’d check in with the team, ask how they were doing, see what they were working on. Sometimes we’d have great chats. Other times, I walked away thinking, “Well, that could have been an email.”

The truth is, no one really teaches you how to run a great 1:1. You’re told to have them - but not how to make them matter. So, like a lot of managers, I just did my best and hoped it was enough.

And honestly? That’s OK. You’re busy. You’re juggling priorities. You’re human.

But it wasn't until one of my top performers blindsided me with a resignation that I realised I'd been missing something. We were meeting regularly, but I wasn't really helping them grow. And they weren't telling me what they really needed because I wasn't asking the right questions.

1:1s Aren’t Free (and the Hours Add Up Fast)

Let’s say you’ve got 50 managers across your business. Each of them spends around 2 hours a week on 1:1s with their team. That’s 100 hours a week. Multiply that by 48 working weeks in the year, and you’re easily clocking 4,800 hours.

Even if just 25% of that time isn’t productive, that’s 1,200 hours - gone.
Already spent. And if those conversations stay surface-level? That’s trust, insight, and growth left on the table.

We’ve heard everything from:

“I thought I was checking in… turns out they were looking for a promotion and didn’t feel seen.”
 

“We always talked about deliverables - never development.”

 “They told me in the exit interview they’d been thinking about leaving for 6 months.”

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What Poor 1:1s Really Cost You

• Underperformance that goes unchecked - because no one’s asking the hard questions
• Motivated people leaving - because no one’s talking about growth
• New starters left struggling - or worse, leaving - because onboarding lacks real support
• Burnout creeping in - because no one’s digging into workload or energy
• Missed potential - because strengths and goals never come up
• Managers burning out too - juggling check-ins that feel like admin, not impact
  
  

Let’s be honest - if your 1:1s feel more like polite updates than real conversations, you’re not alone. You’re just busy. And trying to keep the wheels turning. But that doesn’t mean those meetings can’t work harder for you.

Make the Time Count (With Better Questions)

To help, we’ve created a practical guide: 50 Proven 1:1 Questions, organised by real-life situations - onboarding, underperformance, career growth, engagement, wellbeing and more.

Think of it as your conversation cheat sheet - so you don’t have to make small talk sound like coaching.

These questions have been tested by hundreds of managers and consistently spark new energy, unlock trust, and help people get unstuck fast. They help managers stop winging it and start asking what really matters. No fluff. No filler. Just conversations that go somewhere.

‍What managers say about these questions:

• "Finally had a breakthrough with my quiet team member"
• "My direct report opened up about career goals for the first time"
• "These saved me from another awkward small-talk session"

One of my favourites?

“What gives you energy - and what takes it away?”

That one opens up so much insight. And it’s a lot more effective than “How’s your week going?”

Ready to Go Further? GoFIGR Can Help

At GoFIGR, we’ve built tools to support the full conversation cycle - from personalised prep, to delivery, to follow-through.

🧠 Our AI-powered Meeting Assistant helps managers:

• Ask smarter questions, tailored to each person’s job, goals, or challenges
  
• Summarise key themes, goals, and actions
  
• Track progress over time
  
• Surface insights HR and leaders can act on
  
  

🎤 Our Conversation Rehearsal Tool helps you:

• Prepare for high-stakes or tricky conversations
  
• Practice giving feedback, navigating conflict, or setting expectations
  
• Get AI-powered suggestions on phrasing and tone - before the real thing
  
  

We’ve all had that moment: “I know I need to say something... but I’m not sure how to say it.”

That’s exactly what the rehearsal tool is for.

Practice the awkward bit, reword the risky part, and get your message right - all without a real human watching you flail.

(And don’t worry - the AI won’t judge you.)

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If You’re Already Spending the Time…

…make it count.

You don’t need to overhaul your culture or upskill every manager overnight. Just start with better conversations. We’ll help with the rest.