Questions to ask your manager during your one on ones

How can we make the most of our one-on-one meetings to enhance productivity and communication?

Are you having a regular One 2 One meeting with your manager? Do you usually prepare beforehand or simply hop into the meeting directly? Here are some of my suggestions for preparing before your next meeting so that you can ask relevant and thought-provoking questions.

During a one-on-one meeting with your manager, here are some questions you can consider asking:

1. What are the current priorities and goals for our team/department/project?
2. Is there any feedback you have for me on my recent work or performance?
3. Are there any specific areas where you would like to see me grow or develop my skills?
4. Are there any upcoming changes or initiatives that I should be aware of?
5. Can you provide guidance or clarification on any tasks or projects I’m currently working on?
6. Are there any resources or training opportunities you recommend to help me excel in my role?
7. How can I best support you and the team in achieving our objectives?
8. Is there anything I can do to improve the team’s collaboration or communication?
9. Are there any challenges or obstacles that you foresee that I should be aware of?
10. Do you have any suggestions for balancing my workload or prioritizing tasks more effectively?
11. Can you provide any guidance or advice on how I can enhance my professional development?
12. Are there any new projects or opportunities on the horizon that I could contribute to?
13. Is there anything I can do to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of our team’s processes?
14. Are there any specific metrics or benchmarks I should be aware of to gauge my performance?
15. How can I further align my work with the overall goals and vision of the organization?
16. Are there any areas where you would like to see more collaboration or cross-functional teamwork?
17. Can you share any insights or updates on the company’s strategic direction?
18. Are there any opportunities for me to take on additional responsibilities or leadership roles?
19. Is there anything I can do to enhance the overall morale or team dynamics?
20. Do you have any suggestions for improving my work-life balance or managing stress more effectively?

Remember, these questions can be customized to your specific circumstances and goals. It’s important to actively listen to your manager’s responses and engage in open and constructive dialogue.

Questions You May Avoid

While it’s important to ask thoughtful and relevant questions during a one-on-one meeting with your manager, there are certain types of questions you might want to avoid.

Here are a few examples:

1. Avoid overly personal questions that are unrelated to work, as they may be considered inappropriate or unprofessional.
2. Steer clear of questions that challenge your manager’s authority or decisions in a confrontational manner.
3. Don’t ask questions that can be easily answered by doing basic research or consulting readily available resources.
4. Avoid asking questions solely for the purpose of showing off or impressing your manager.
5. Stay away from asking about confidential or sensitive information that you’re not authorized to know.
6. Try not to ask questions that are too vague or broad, as it may make it difficult for your manager to provide a clear answer.

Remember, the purpose of the one-on-one meeting is to foster open communication, address relevant work-related topics, and build a strong working relationship with your manager. Use your judgment to ensure the questions you ask are respectful, constructive, and aligned with the purpose of the meeting.

Tip: Make sure you know what you do and what your role expectations are so that you can prepare certain data and be prepared to ask/answer relevant questions. Irrespective of your role please don’t go unprepared.

Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to read this article. For more content on Project and Operations Management and best practices, I encourage you to explore my other articles here at Project Insights – for best practices and real project experience (www.projinsights.com)

Your comments and feedback are always welcome and appreciated.

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