For leaders striving to build engaged and high-performing teams, 1:1 meetings are a critical tool. Yet, many managers treat these meetings as routine check-ins rather than opportunities for meaningful conversations. Vicky Regan, PCC, CEC, founder of “Hone Leadership,” specializes in helping leaders maximize the effectiveness of their 1:1s, ensuring that they foster development, improve communication, and drive real results.
With over 25 years in business leadership, Vicky has worked extensively with executives, managers, and organizations to refine leadership strategies. Her approach centers on adaptability, feedback, and intentional leadership—all of which are essential to conducting effective 1:1 meetings. She emphasizes that these meetings should be more than status updates; they should serve as structured conversations that encourage growth, provide constructive feedback, and align individual contributions with organizational goals.
Strategies for Effective 1:1 Meetings
A well-structured 1:1 meeting provides clarity, enhances engagement, and ensures that employees feel heard and supported. Vicky’s framework for impactful meetings focuses on three core principles: coachability, adaptability, and strategic time management.
1. Creating a Culture of Coachability
Effective leaders promote coachability within their teams, ensuring that employees are open to feedback and actively seek ways to improve. Vicky’s “Coachability Edge Framework,” a key concept in her coaching methodology, highlights the importance of asking the right questions during 1:1s. Instead of simply reviewing tasks, managers should ask:
- What obstacles are you currently facing?
- What support or resources would help you succeed?
- What feedback have you received recently, and how are you applying it?
Encouraging self-reflection and growth-oriented discussions builds accountability and reinforces a culture of continuous improvement. This aligns with Vicky’s expertise in feedback coaching, where she trains leaders to give and receive feedback effectively to drive performance.
2. Adaptability and Resilience in Leadership
Vicky’s work in adaptive leadership focuses on resilience in times of change. Leaders who conduct flexible and responsive 1:1s are better equipped to guide their teams through challenges. Instead of rigid meeting agendas, she advises managers to integrate real-time problem-solving and adjust discussions based on current priorities.
One of the key strategies she teaches is recognizing and addressing burnout proactively. Many employees hesitate to discuss challenges openly, but thoughtful questioning and active listening can uncover underlying stressors before they escalate.
3. Time Management and Goal Alignment
One of the biggest challenges in leadership is managing time effectively while ensuring meetings remain productive. Vicky emphasizes that 1:1s should not be status updates; those can be handled via email or shared dashboards. Instead, these meetings should focus on alignment, development, and problem-solving.
She recommends allocating time for long-term development, not just immediate tasks, using structured agendas, ensuring that both parties contribute, and balancing tactical discussions with strategic conversations about career growth.
Vicky’s leadership coaching programs emphasize that great leadership is not just about managing tasks but about guiding people toward their highest potential. Through Hone Leadership, she provides executive coaching, leadership development workshops, and strategic advisory services to help professionals refine their leadership style.
Her coaching programs for organizations focus on feedback culture, effective communication, and resilience in leadership, equipping managers with the tools they need to lead with confidence and clarity.
In addition to her consulting and coaching work, Vicky is an author and speaker on adaptive leadership and feedback-driven management. Her chapter in an upcoming leadership book expands on building adaptability and resilience in leadership, reinforcing her belief that leaders must be open to change and continuous learning.
For leaders looking to maximize their impact, effective 1:1 meetings serve as a powerful tool for engagement, development, and alignment. By implementing Vicky Regan’s strategies, managers can transform these meetings from routine conversations into opportunities for meaningful growth and long-term success.
