It’s time for your 1:1 with your boss… Do you know what to talk about? Try this!
Do you ever get that mild feeling of panic right before a 1:1 conversation with your boss? Historically, I’ve had thoughts like, “I don’t even know what I should talk about. I feel like such a spaz right now! How am I going to have enough to say for a full half hour (or hour)?!" I remember how, especially early in my career, I would sometimes just walk into my boss’ office , fill the time with whatever I could think of, and then walk out wondering if I really covered everything I should have.
Over time, I realized that the more organized I could be with my thoughts ahead of talking with my boss, the better our conversations would go. And, being a project manager, of course I love a spreadsheet to help me get organized, so this week, I’m sharing my third tool from my resource library, my Status Report Template. I’ve used a version of this template for years to help me lead my weekly 1:1 meetings with my boss, and to help my direct reports communicate key information to me. In the video, I explain how to download and use it. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can get your own copy of my status report template right here.
Using a tool like this has helped me improve the time I spend with my managers, and also helps me as a manager keep better track of everything my team members are working on. I hope it is equally helpful to you!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Here’s a challenge for the week: download a copy of this status report and actually use it during your next 1:1 meeting with your boss. Did it help you keep the conversation organized? Did you walk away confident that the most important pieces of information were shared? Let me know how it goes via the comments or a DM!