One-on-one Meetings With Your Boss: The Most Important Questions You Need To Ask

A woman having a one on one meeting with Boss

One-on-one Meetings With Your Boss: The Most Important Questions You Need To Ask

When you first started the job, your boss enthusiastically told you that you would receive all the help and guidance you need to support your career growth; this included regular one-on-one meetings. Fast forward a few months, a year, or even more, and you have found that the only meetings that have occurred are the weekly status update meetings. There’s no doubt that you are now feeling unsupported and unheard.

So, how do you overcome this?

Well, most often, the manager initiates one-on-one meetings. Most frequently, this happens at the end of your initial probation period or your annual review. So, to begin with, you can start by turning the tables so that you gain control of when these one-on-one meetings take place. You can do this by letting your manager know that in the interim until you achieve your desired goal, you wish to have these regular meetings. Do not forget to set this into the calendar so that you both commit to it.

Now that you have the meeting locked in, you need to ensure you get the most out of it. You can do this by prepping and asking smart questions. To help you along, we’ve put together a list of the top ten questions to ask your boss in your one-on-one.

Ten important questions to ask your boss during a one-on-one meeting

Before we reveal the top ten questions, you need to frame your questions into four areas of focus.

  1. Growth - These questions Revolve around personal and professional growth. 

  2.  Motivation – This can be as simple as asking for feedback on your performance. 

  3.  Communication – Focuses on building and nurturing relationships with your manager and offering them support (instead of always being one way). 

  4.  Work - This is an ideal opportunity to ask for support and resources to assist you with your job, clarify expectations, ensure you’re meeting those expectations, and ask if your work aligns with the corporate strategy.

Here are a few questions you can ask that will help you cover all bases.

Growth

  • What advice would you give me at this point in my career to take me to the next level?

  • What should I be targeting as my next career move, and why?

  • What kind of skills and training should I seek?

Motivation

  • Am I meeting your expectations?

  • Do you have any feedback on how I am handling Task X?

Communication

  • What are your targets for this month? And how can I help you achieve these?

  • How is your day going?

  • Where and how do you think I can improve my communication skills?

Work

  • Can you recommend how I may go about finding a solution to problem x?

  • Looking ahead, what significant changes are coming up in the next quarter?

These are just a few baseline questions to get you started. Remember, you can’t address them all in one meeting. So, strategically pick the two main questions that are the most relevant at the time.

Whether you’re in the midst of your legal career at a firm or deciding to search for a new future, save this article to ensure you continue to get the most out of your career.  

Clear communication from day one, with Day One Recruitment

If you are searching for a new future, contact us on 07 3185 5157. We will open doors to opportunities in law firms and legal teams nationally. Our partnerships with clients see us recruit all levels of Lawyers, Risk and Compliance professionals, and a range of Legal Counsel positions, including General Counsel and Lead Legal Manager.  

With open and clear communication, at Day One Recruitment, we are here to show you the big picture when it comes to your career and offer you the best possible opportunity for a successful future.

Angela Grant