Do one-on-one meetings really make a difference?

When I worked in the staff development department of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, my boss (Liz) and I had a monthly one-on-one meeting. It was a time to talk, catch up and discuss whatever was on one of our minds. I really enjoyed those meetings. They helped to build and maintain a positive connection to Liz and my job.

When I was managing I also conducted these meetings with my direct reports. They opened up conversations that we never would have had “on the fly” or in the halls.

Based on this experience and comments I’ve heard from other folks, I have this gut feeling that employees who regularly meet with their direct supervisor in a one-on-one setting (in a private place at a previously scheduled time) are more engaged at work.

What do you think?

Here’s my logic.  Open communication, strong relationships, encouragement of growth and development and teamwork are all elements of an inspiring manager. If an employee knows that each month he or she will have dedicated time to talk with his or her manager in a casual environment, then the employee will feel more engaged at work. Of course, this assumes that the manager is a good listener and genuinely cares about his or her team members, and that the manager helps the employee meet his or her work goals.

I’m going to be doing more research into this topic, but I’d love to hear about your experiences. Do you agree? What benefits do you see from one-on-one meetings? Are there any downsides?