Elevarse Performance Consulting

Let’s talk about the one-on-one meeting. 

With year-end performance reviews approaching, you’re probably mulling what to say to your direct reports, and likewise to your own boss. There’s a lot on the line in these tete-a-tetes: Your annual bonus, next year’s big projects, even your career trajectory are up for debate. And it’s not just about you — surveys show that both bosses and staff alike say one-on-ones can positively impact a whole team’s performance.

And yet, we’re screwing up these meetings as well, according to Steven Rogelberg, a professor of organizational science, psychology and management at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who’s been researching meetings for two decades.

The key to a great performance review is no surprises, Rogelberg says. Here are a few other tips from the meeting maestro.