B1: 1:1s
Use when: Your regular one-on-one with a direct report.
The questions
- What would make this 1:1 most useful for you today?
- What are your top priorities this week, and which one feels most fragile?
- Where are you getting stuck, and what have you tried so far?
- What's taking more time or energy than it should?
- What do you need from me to be successful over the next two weeks?
- Where do you want more autonomy, and where do you want more direction?
- What's one risk you're seeing that I might not be seeing?
- What feedback do you have for me as your manager right now?
- What would you like to be different by our next 1:1?
Research basis
Austin 2016; Bungay Stanier 2016; Schein 2013; Scott 2017; Edmondson 1999
Get the full field guide
The complete PDF covers 24 situations, 153 questions, and the four listening moves (reflect, summarize, validate, clarify). Download The Questions Leaders Ask field guide.
Workshop
Want your leaders practicing these out loud, with their team in the room? See how Kestryl Edge workshops work.