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1:1 meeting agenda template (30 minutes)

A one-on-one becomes a status report when the manager drives the agenda. Twelve minutes for their topics come before eight for yours, and the asymmetry is the point: this is the other person's meeting, and a manager who fills it with updates has quietly taken it back.

Topic Minutes Running total
Check-in One or two minutes each. This sets the tone and surfaces any urgent blockers. 5 5
Their topics Twelve minutes for their agenda. The time split is deliberate: this meeting exists for them, not you. 12 17
Your topics Eight minutes for your agenda. Keep it to priorities and decisions; deep dives belong elsewhere. 8 25
Growth and actions Review one strength and one focus area. Agree on what they will do differently this cycle. 5 30

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Using BriefMe, create a 30-minute one-on-one agenda with a 5-minute check-in, 12 minutes for their topics, 8 minutes for yours, and 5 minutes for growth and next actions.

Questions

How long should a 1:1 be?
Thirty minutes is standard for a regular check-in, and most people accomplish what they need in twenty if they stay disciplined. The variant is 45 minutes for a deeper conversation, a probation check-in, or a role transition.
What should a manager prepare?
Mostly nothing. Read your own notes from the last meeting and come with one real question or observation ready, but let them set the agenda. The best one-on-ones feel like their meeting, not yours.
What if they have nothing to say?
Then ask. A prepared list helps: how is the new project going, what has been frustrating, what skills do they want to develop. But silence at the start often means they are processing something—give them time to surface it.

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