What to Ask in One-on-One with Manager: What's Vital for Connection?
Fostering Genuine Connection in Your One-on-One
Building a strong connection with your manager is essential for effective collaboration, alignment, and mutual understanding. Here are key questions to ask during your one-on-one meetings to nurture this vital connection:
1. Understanding Personal Goals and Values:
Exploring Personal Aspirations: Begin by understanding your manager's personal goals and values. Question: What are your long-term career aspirations, and how can I support you in achieving them? Relevance: Understanding your manager's aspirations fosters empathy and strengthens your professional relationship. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, employees who feel understood by their managers are 2.9 times more likely to be engaged at work.
2. Building Rapport and Trust:
Establishing Trust: Invest time in building rapport and trust with your manager. Question: How can we strengthen our working relationship and build trust, especially when facing challenging situations? Relevance: Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship and facilitates open communication and collaboration. Research by Great Place to Work Institute indicates that trust-based cultures experience 50% higher levels of productivity.
3. Clarifying Expectations and Preferences:
Understanding Communication Preferences: Seek clarity on your manager's communication preferences and expectations. Question: What communication style and frequency do you prefer, and how can I adapt to ensure effective communication between us? Relevance: Aligning communication preferences fosters smoother interactions and reduces misunderstandings. A survey by Dynamic Signal found that 87% of employees believe that a clear communication strategy directly impacts their ability to perform their job.
4. Seeking Feedback and Recognition:
Requesting Feedback: Regularly seek feedback from your manager to gauge performance and identify areas for improvement. Question: How can I best solicit feedback from you, and what specific behaviors or achievements would you like to recognize or acknowledge? Relevance: Feedback promotes growth and development and strengthens the bond between you and your manager. According to a study by Zenger Folkman, 92% of employees believe that constructive feedback, if delivered appropriately, is effective at improving performance.
5. Aligning on Career Development:
Discussing Career Goals: Align your career aspirations with your manager's vision for your professional growth. Question: What opportunities for career development do you see for me within the team or organization, and how can we work together to pursue them? Relevance: Career alignment fosters engagement and commitment and ensures that your goals are in sync with organizational objectives. A survey by Gallup revealed that employees who feel their career goals are aligned with their company's goals are 3.5 times more likely to be engaged at work.
By asking these insightful questions in your one-on-one meetings, you can deepen your connection with your manager, enhance collaboration, and foster a more fulfilling and productive work environment. Discover more conversation starters on what to ask in one on one with manager to enrich your professional relationships.
