Most of us work fairly independently and asynchronously. To balance that, we believe that managers and teammates should have a regular phone or video call in order to align on priorities, problem-solve, and connect on a human level.

Our recommendation is for teammates to connect regularly over video with their manager. These can be recurring at the same time every week or so, or as-needed. Try not to go more than 2 working weeks without a touchpoint. Most teammates choose a recurring weekly or biweekly 30- or 45-minute zoom.

While some of the 1:1 time may be spent on status updates or project reports, ideally this time is primarily for the teammate to drive the conversation and share at the highest level what’s on their mind. The manager will also use this time to discuss timely or personal topics. This should cover:

• Project blockers, challenges, premortems, or any other topic related to work quality or deadlines.
• Ideas, brainstorming, strategizing, or any other topic related to meeting the team goals and serving customers well.
• The teammate’s performance, performance related to the level expectations, teammate career goals, growth opportunities
• Feedback on process, communication, and culture (both ways, on an individual level or for Buffer generally!)

How to prepare for a great 1:1: