One On One Quotes

“might take time to learn who you are, what you do and how you do it. I will never refer anyone after an initial 30 minute one on one call. I treat every referral like my reputation is on the line, so that kind of trust takes time.”
― Loren Weisman

“Do you feel your one-on-one with your boss is somehow different than every other meeting you have during the week? Part of a healthy communication structure is when information moves easily around the team, organization, and company.”
― Michael Lopp, Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager

“The sound that surrounds a successful regimen of one-on-ones is silence. All of the listening, questioning, and discussion that happens during a one-on-one is managerial preventative maintenance. You’ll see when interest in a project begins to wane and take action before it becomes job dissatisfaction. You’ll hear about tension between two employees and moderate a discussion before it becomes a yelling match in a meeting. Your reward for a culture of healthy one-on-ones is a distinct lack of drama.”
― Michael Lopp, Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager

“You need to go out of your way to make this happen, but it only need be a small gesture. A brief one-on-one moment where you acknowledge this person is relevant. More than a fly-by “bye” on your last day. Less than a tearful hug in the hallway.”
― Michael Lopp, Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager

“What is a manager learning in a one-on-one? Much of what you’re talking about in a one-on-one your manager already knows. You’re concerned about the reorg, right? Well, everyone is and he’s already talked to four other people about their concerns. You think the field engineers are a bunch of twits? So does he. A good manager has his finger on the pulse of their organization and the one-on-one usually echoes much of that pulse, so why is he carving out 30 minutes for every person on his team?”
― Michael Lopp, Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager

“Your job in a one-on-one is to give the smallest voice a chance to be heard, and I start with a question: “How are you?”
― Michael Lopp, Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager

“As I’m listening to the answer, I’m discerning your mood, and I’m throwing you into one of three buckets regarding the type of one-on-one we’re about to have: The Update (all clear!) The Vent (something’s up . . .) The Disaster (oh dear . . .)”
― Michael Lopp, Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager