During my days of leading a large team spread out across multiple sites, there was one thing I did consistently that made all the difference. This one thing…

• Created close connection with each employee

• Maintained open and active two-way communication

• Provided natural, nonthreatening opportunities for feedback and coaching

• Kept me informed and aware of happenings on my team

• Enabled me to resolve issues early

• Built steady trust overtime

Any guesses? The secret weapon: 1:1s.

More specifically: bi-weekly, 30-minute 1:1 meetings with every employee on my team. I know it's not a glamorous answer, but it's the truth. Sadly, this impactful leadership practice is massively undervalued and underutilized because:

1. Managers feel like they don't have the time or bandwidth to hold them regularly

2. They are not sure how to facilitate them

Good news: they're much easier to facilitate than you think! In fact, I believe the employee should own the meeting—not the manager—so take that off your list. Second, when done well, these regular, brief check-ins with your employees will actually save you time in the long run as you maintain consistent connection.

You know I'm all about simple, easy-to-apply practices that deliver results, so this week I'm sharing a 1:1 Cheat Sheet to make your 1:1s easy and effective. Download it now to get started!