Make a copy of this doc. Fill out the Questions for Manager section. Send this to your employee and ask them to spend 30 mins or less filling out the Questions for Employee before your 1:1.
Welcome to your first 1:1 meeting!
In this meeting, you’ll get to know each other, cover work habits and preferences, and talk about how you can work well together.
Questions for Manager
What’s the purpose of this meeting?
Who are you?
Explain a brief history of your time in your role at your company.
What is important for you at work?
How you interact with people?
You’ll know when I’m grumpy when I...
How do you like to receive feedback?
Questions for Employee
What do you expect from a good manager?
How do you like to receive feedback?
How do you prefer to receive recognition?
What is important to you outside of work?
What makes you grumpy? How will I know when you’re grumpy?
What’s your favorite baked good? (When you want to thank somebody, it can be super useful.)
What is your favorite way of having our 1:1 meeting: a walk, a coffee break, a meeting in a meeting room?
What is the best time for having our 1:1 meeting?
What makes 1:1s the most valuable for you?
Set the process:
Create a shared doc at the end of your 1:1 to share action items for each of you.