How do Perth Businesses connect with their teams?

How Do Perth Businesses Connect With Their Teams?

March 29, 2016 | By Christine Howitz, Vitil

I was recently asked by a seasoned business manager how to create a better connection with their services team. This month our Human Resource Services Consultants are sharing a few ideas and important ways to create connection…

"You spend so much time finding great people, it's worth it to help them grow to be the best they can be."
Richard Branson

Despite our best attempts to minimise management meetings, the 1-1 is the best way for managers and those who report to them, to connect on pressing service and management issues, develop a strong relationship, to ensure that employees feel like they're working toward their goals.

Without a proper management framework, agenda and mindset however, the 1-1 meeting can become just another meeting in your day. Here our Perth based Human Resources Consultants share their suggestions for making the 1-1 meeting your most important meeting, whether you're a manager or individual contributor in business in Perth.

What is a 1-1?

A 1-1 is a dedicated space in the calendar and your mental map for open-ended and anticipated conversation between a manager and an employee. Unlike status reports or tactical meetings, the 1-1 meeting is a place for coaching, mentorship, giving context, or even venting. The 1-1 goes beyond an open door policy and dedicates time for a regular, open communication forum for teammates and Perth leaders to connect and communicate.

Making time…

1-1s is a time to make sure you and your service team are aligned. Regular check-ins stop larger issues from festering, allows for immediate and regular feedback, and promotes open communication. But manager schedules are often inundated with meetings so it can be difficult to find a dedicated time and space for the 1-1. To ensure you stick to a schedule, set aside 30 to 60 minutes on a weekly or bi-weekly basis with each of your team members. Don't feel confined to a conference room: suggest getting out of the office for a walk or grabbing a coffee.

Some Perth managers prefer to have a day dedicated to 1-1s while others sprinkle their meetings throughout the week to ensure maximum mental presence. A benefit of having meetings on the same day is setting yourself up to find linkages between what is going on with your team. Figure out which works best for you and build out your schedule to give back the most to your reports.

Getting the most out of 1-1s

There's no one way to organise a 1-1. In fact, many factors dictate the best way to structure your meetings for success including the emotional needs of those you manage, your relationship, and the team member's experience level. The most important element in a successful 1-1 is creating a space where individuals feel comfortable to discuss the issues and concerns on their mind. These meetings are primarily for the employee and their participation is vital.

Make a private project dedicated to your 1-1. Contribute tasks and topics to discuss. Add sections titled: Goals, Discuss this week, Revisit later.

Pre-populating the agenda ensures you cover priority topics. Make a shared agenda to not only provide context prior to the meeting but allow both parties to take ownership of the meeting. Time box the topics you know you need to cover.

Preparing for the important human resources 1-1 meeting ahead of time allows you to eliminate spending time on background information and immediately get to the things that really matter.

The game plan

Begin your 1-1 with an open ended question. This allows the most important and top of mind topics to surface. Here are some questions you might try:

  • How are you feeling?
  • What is on your mind?
  • What are you most excited about?
  • What are you most worried about?

Most importantly, listen to what's being said. An important aspect of being a manager in Perth businesses today, is to make sure your employees feel safe, valued and heard, but most importantly empowered. Once you've fully heard them, help be a facilitator of solutions. Uncover what they're excited about, how you can mentor them to be successful, and unblock them to do their best work.

There are endless benefits to the continuous and honest feedback given in a 1-1 both for a manager and team members. Bringing out the best in your employees, eliminating unnecessary tension, improving workflow, pushing your team's energy level and making your human capital (employees) feel valued are just a few reasons to find the time on your calendar for your next 1-1.

If you would like help to prepare and instil a culture of team connection, Vitil HR can help. Our Human Resource Consultants partner with many SMEs to develop their strategic human resource plans and culture to ensure a dynamic, energised environment. We are a boutique Human Resources consulting firm who offer flexible, reliable and affordable outsourced human resource support and recruitment services.

Vitil's Human Resource Consultants key focus is team performance. We consult with your staff in your business to manage your people needs. By outsourcing Human Resources to an expert in Human Resource Services, our experienced professionals can objectively assess your environment, your human capital, your culture, and assist you in developing your businesses resources and performance.

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