Mentor Mindset: Making 1:1s More Meaningful

How are your 1:1 meetings? Are you using them to develop your team?
Here's One Mentor Habit that Changes 1:1s

Most managers already have 1:1 meetings on their calendars. The challenge isn’t the meeting — it’s what the meeting turns into. Status updates, issue triage, problem-solving sessions.

All useful. But not always developmental.

This is where a Mentor Mindset changes the conversation.

Mentor-minded managers use 1:1s not just to review work, but to develop the person doing the work — building clarity, confidence, and capability over time.

There’s one simple habit that makes a real difference:
End every 1:1 with this question:

👉 “What support do you need from me to be successful?”

That question does a few powerful things at once:
✔️ It signals belief and partnership
✔️ It shifts ownership back to the employee
✔️ It surfaces blockers early — before they become urgent
✔️ It builds trust without lowering expectations

For technical and operations managers especially, this matters.
👉 Many of you are wired to jump in, solve the problem, and keep things moving. That instinct is valuable — but over time, it can create dependency and constant firefighting.
This habit helps break that cycle.

Instead of hearing “Everything’s fine” or “Nothing else,” managers often start hearing:
“I need clearer priorities.”
“I could use earlier feedback.”
“I need alignment with another team.”
That’s not inefficiency. That’s signal. 👍

You don’t need to redesign your 1:1s or add more meetings.
Just ask the question.
Pause.
Listen.
And follow through.
Small shift. Big impact.