The most valuable thing a manager can give you isn't advice.
It's their time.
A manager's calendar is one of the clearest reflections of their priorities.
Mine is often packed too. But I deliberately protect time for 1:1s.
Not because every conversation needs to solve a problem.
But because regular 1:1s send a simple message:
You matter. I have time for you.
With a small team, regular 1:1s are easier to manage. With a larger team, you might need to adjust the frequency.
But less frequent doesn't have to mean less valuable.
And there's something else I think is important:
A 1:1 is not a one-way street.
It's not only for your manager to give feedback, assign tasks or check progress.
You can manage up, too.
- Bring a challenge.
- Ask for context.
- Share an idea.
- Talk about your development.
- Ask for what you need.
Your manager's time is valuable.
So is yours.
How do you use your 1:1s?
This is part of my "100 Days of Year One" series. Follow along as I share what I've learned in my first year as Head of Data and Cloud.