Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Learn the five mistakes business owners make that turn one on ones into status updates instead of performance engines for business growth. You're listening to why your business isn't growing and how to fix it. The business growth podcast for small business owners and SME leaders who want to scale, lift team performance and Sharpen leadership without 60 hour weeks. G'. Day. I'm Brendan Rogers and thanks for joining me. In this episode, you'll learn the five mistakes that turn one on ones into status updates, a fast playbook to flip updates into outcomes, and a tiny checklist you can run this week.
[00:00:35] Think of this as your playbook. It's time to craft your one on ones, not wing them.
[00:00:42] Most leaders book weekly one on ones, then treat them like email inbox time updates, updates, updates. No coaching, no clear questions and no change next week.
[00:00:55] Now here's the twist. Performance doesn't improve because you talk more.
[00:01:00] It improves because you ask better questions, you track better metrics and you follow up better. All on a steady rhythm. This is a leadership podcast, but it's also a team performance podcast. Your one on ones are where standards, support and speed get real.
[00:01:21] Now here's the playbook. I call it the craft one on one performance pillars. It's five simple steps. It takes ten minutes to set up. Then you just keep the rhythm.
[00:01:32] Now these five pillars are what helps overcome the five mistakes business owners make that turn one on ones into status updates instead of performance engines for business growth. And for this example, I'm going to focus on the weekly one on one performance meeting.
[00:01:47] Let's unpack the craft 101 performance pillars. So the C in craft is Coach. We need to talk less and ask more. What does coaching do? Coaching builds judgment. Talking builds dependence.
[00:02:03] There's a few prompts that I like to use. Then I shut up and I listen.
[00:02:07] These prompts are, what results do you want in the next seven days?
[00:02:11] What's in your way and what's your first move?
[00:02:14] And here's one action you can take this week in your next one on one. Spend at least the first five minutes asking before advising.
[00:02:23] The next pillar is R for rhythm. You need to stop rescheduling. Remember, people, trust what happens on time every time.
[00:02:33] What you can do is pick a fixed day and time for 20 minutes. And if you're remote, make sure your camera's on. Only move it in a true emergency.
[00:02:43] And here's an action you can take this week. Open your calendar. Lock a weekly slot for each direct report for the next 12 weeks.
[00:02:53] A is the next pillar And A is for agenda. We need to stop winging it in our one on ones. Why is this important? Well, a shared and standard agenda stops rambling and it centers the outcomes. How do we implement it well before the meeting? Share Share. The high impact leader recommended agenda in a shared doc.
[00:03:13] It includes wins from the week before, the most important task for this week and what support is needed. And if you like, add an additional one skill that you want to sharpen. And here's the action you can take this week to implement the A agenda pillar. Create a recurring document and title it one on one. You your direct reports name and agenda. The F pillar is for follow ups. No follow ups equals no change. And why is this important? Well, if it isn't written down, it isn't real.
[00:03:47] How do you make it Happen? End each one on one with three lines in the shared document. I like to use DoD decision or the next step owner and deadline.
[00:04:00] Now the one action you can take this week to implement F follow up pillar is add a DoD decision, owner deadline section to the shared document and fill it in before you close the meeting. And the final pillar is T for targets. No metrics is no momentum. Remember numbers force clarity and help celebrate progress. How do you implement this? Well, pick one leading metric per person, something they control each week. For sales it could be the next step, could be calls booked for operations. It might be something like cycle time closed on some outstanding jobs and customer service. Could be NPS net promoter score comments closed. What's the action you can take this week? Well just agree on one weekly metric and write it at the top of the shared document.
[00:04:54] In the high impact leader club you learn how to apply the craft one on one performance pillars across the one on one meeting ecosystem which includes the weekly performance, monthly development and quarterly strategic growth meetings.
[00:05:09] Now let's take a quick pit stop. Try this out right now. Open your notes and type next. One on one aim equals at least one decision plus one behaviour improvement. And that's your success definition for every one on one meeting you have this week. Now here's the quick recap of the craft one on one performance pillars.
[00:05:30] C is coach, R is rhythm, A is agenda, F is follow up and T is targets.
[00:05:39] Always remember, craft your one on ones, don't wing them. In a minute I'm going to give you a nine word coaching question that that flips any status update into a growth chat. Now I want you to hold that thought. Let's look at the mistakes and map them against the craft 101 performance pillars. Mistake one talking and not coaching. The fix is C for coach, ask the result and any obstacle that's in the way and then listen. Mistake two is rescheduling the fix in the craft from framework is R for rhythm. Lock it in weekly, treat it like revenue. You want consistency and mistake number three no agenda the fix Use the high impact leader recommended agenda for the relevant one on one type. Mistake 4 no follow ups and the fix F for follow ups end with decision on next steps, the owner and deadlines written down and mistake 5 no metrics. The fix is T for targets one weekly metric you can move.
[00:06:49] Here's why speed matters in the process.
[00:06:52] In episode 28 I said trust reduces by the hour after your first contact.
[00:06:57] The same rule applies here. Close every one on one with decision owner deadline.
[00:07:04] Then the same day email a three line recap to your direct report.
[00:07:08] Leave no loose ends. No, I thought you meant whatever. Just maintain momentum.
[00:07:14] Remember small improvements every day. That's how serious growth happens.
[00:07:19] Here's a 10 second audit. Answer yes or no for each direct report that you have.
[00:07:25] Do we have a fixed weekly one on one slot? Did we follow the standard agenda last time?
[00:07:31] Did we leave with a written decision, owner and deadline?
[00:07:35] Did I ask before I advised?
[00:07:38] Do we track one weekly metric now? Count your no answers and that becomes your to do list. Action it now.
[00:07:46] Remember I talked about the nine word coaching question. Well here it is.
[00:07:51] What decision moves this forward in the next seven days that is before we meet again.
[00:07:58] Ask it then. Wait. This gives ownership instead of updates.
[00:08:03] So here's the thing. If your one on ones feel like status updates, your team stalls and you start to micromanage. You lose hours each week, your best people disengage and tiny issues turn into costly rework. You need to get a clear read on your leadership habits and the exact next step to build high impact one on ones. You can take the free High Impact leader assessment at LeaderByDesign AU assessment you'll see your level and the one change to implement this week.
[00:08:36] I'm Brendan Rogers and this is why your business isn't growing and how to fix it. If today's episode helped you, follow or subscribe and share it with just one SME owner or leader who will benefit. If you want to learn more about joining the high impact leader club, go to LeaderByDesign Au Hil.
[00:08:55] Until next time. Grow yourself. Grow your business.
[00:09:01] SME business owners and senior leaders tired of 60 hour weeks while cash flow crawls? Break free with my free 60 minute training. The five habit method to boost cash flow without 60 hour weeks. Learn leadership habits that lift revenue, energize your team and let you clock off by five.
[00:09:19] You'll also see how the High Impact Leader membership delivers ongoing coaching, accountability and plug and play systems to elevate your career and company. Grab your seat at LeaderByDesign AU Impact.
