Leaders whose direct reports submit regular (e.g., monthly) status reports on progress, problems, and plans should consider re-working their approach to include more frequent (e.g., bi-weekly), one-on-one, real-time meetings to discuss progress and to collaborate and align on how things are going, priorities, and next steps.

Specifically, top leaders ask each direct report to prepare and submit a day or so ahead of meeting one-on-one:

• An update on progress since last meeting, including a read-out of measures previously agreed upon to track progress.

• A list of the top three or so things s/he is working on, and for each:
  • What s/he seeks to accomplish
  • What has been done so far to accomplish it
  • What has happened as a result of what has been done so far
  • What has been learned from above
  • What s/he plans to do  next.

• What s/he needs from their leaders and/or from others in the organization to be successful. Continue reading Bi-weekly One-on-One Executive Meetings →