Ferrisbeboolin

Inside Sales Representative

How to make the most of 1 on 1s?

hear a lot of people say 1 on 1s are a waste of time. I feel it would be because the wrong questions are being asked and the wrong activities are being focused on. As an incoming associate what would you change about 1 on 1s to maximize their value?

🧠 Advice

🎯 Career Development

🥎 Training

15 comments

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Wellss

Tycoon

Channel sales

Set an agenda for the 1 on 1. If there is nothing on the agenda, no need to meet

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Make sure it not just a pipeline update, that should be in the crm

Wellss

Tycoon

Channel sales

Exactly! If you want to know about my deals, look in the crm. If they are not updated, put it on the agenda. No agenda = no meeting

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

My monthly is a powerpoint of my forecast, pipeline, hits, misses, questions for management, etc. It's your time. Make the most of it.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I have a standing weekly 1:1 with my manager. The agenda is flexible, but will always have overview of the current pipeline, any challenges I am facing for which she can help, any announcements or things she needs to pass on, and then just time to talk. Since I really respect her knowledge and negotiation skills, I've found the time valuable. And just chatting with her is a good way to gauge what's going on with my company as a whole. Completely not a waste of time for me.

1nbatopshotfan

Politicker

Sales

The 1 on 1 should be for what you want to discuss. It’s career help for you, not the manager. It’s not a pipeline call. It should be structured as your time. Anything else isn’t a true 1/1 but rather a pipeline call.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Bring your top questions or obstacles on accounts you are trying to close. Talk through them and then give feedback the next 1:1. Also bring deals that you lost and gain feedback as to why.

Arzola

Valued Contributor

Business administration

totally agree!

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I am not good at it either but I’m trying to improve every time. I break things into pointers that I want to discuss - it can be related to accounts, challenges, career advancement , feedback and of course some personal talks as well.

GTMLeader

Good Citizen

GTM Leader

The objective of 1-1's are for coaching and to assist the reps in closing business. So, the first 10-15 minutes of your 1-1 should be a review of your previous week's objectives. Then ~30 minutes of pipeline review, drilling down into the top 5-6 opportunities and the last 5-10 minutes should be setting your objectives for the upcoming week.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

1 on 1s are not a waste of time.
unless you let them be.
I always think "ok what do i need to get clarity on/help on/, what questions do I want to ask NOT in a group setting."

if i have nothing, then cancel it and wait till next week.

Epictetus

Valued Contributor

SaaSy

As an IC, I always set the agenda for the 1:1. This is my time to get what I need, bayyeeebaaaayyye. If they don't like it, they better suggest something better than what I have on the docket. Most of the time, I'm focusing on career progression, problems with key deals, and areas that I need support.

SalesRobot

Politicker

Sage

First of all, I think it's important to understand the purpose of 1 on 1s and what they are meant to achieve. 1 on 1s are a valuable opportunity for managers and team members to have a focused, dedicated time to discuss individual goals, challenges, and progress. They are meant to be a chance for open communication and feedback, and to help individuals align their work with the overall goals of the team and organization.

To make the most of 1 on 1s, I would focus on asking the right questions and focusing on the right activities. Some examples of effective 1 on 1 questions could include:

- What are your current goals and how can I support you in achieving them?
- What challenges are you facing in your work and how can we address them together?
- What feedback do you have for me as your manager?
- What do you need from me to be successful in your role?

In addition to asking the right questions, it's also important to focus on the right activities during 1 on 1s. Some examples of effective 1 on 1 activities could include:
- Discussing individual and team goals and how they align with the overall goals of the organization
- Providing feedback and support to help individuals grow and develop in their roles
- Identifying and addressing any challenges or obstacles that may be hindering individual or team performance
- Reviewing progress and setting new goals for the upcoming period.

Overall, the key to making 1 on 1s valuable is to approach them with a clear purpose and focus on asking the right questions and engaging in the right activities. By doing so, 1 on 1s can be a valuable tool for fostering open communication, providing feedback and support, and helping individuals align their work with the overall goals of the team and organization.

WheelofCheese

Opinionated

Sales Executive

First, be grateful if you are being offered one-on-ones. Your manager isn't setting time aside for the fun of it. They are setting this time aside to HELP YOU! Also, these one-on-one sessions are designed to have an open and honest discussion on how things are going. Be honest about your struggles if you're having them, and also don't be afraid to ask for help. You've been hired to be successful, and any good leader wants to help you get there. They're not mind readers and can't do anything to help you unless you open up to them. If things are great-- and you're being 100% honest, that's great too! Just don't tell them what you think they want to hear. That's a waste of everyone's time. Use this time to your advantage.

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Ferrisbeboolin

How to make the most of 1 on 1s?

15 comments

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