If your one-to-ones sound like a project update, your team is probably saving the important conversations for somewhere else. Usually that somewhere is their exit interview.
A structure that works
- Their agenda first: what is on their mind this week?
- One question about energy: what felt good, what felt heavy?
- One forward look: what support do they need from you before next week?
Keep status updates in a shared document. Protect the meeting for the conversation that cannot happen in writing.
