🔍 Why Structured 1-on-1 Meeting Agendas Work

One-on-one meetings are more than just another calendar item – they’re a proven driver of engagement and performance. According to Gallup’s State of the American Manager report, employees who have regular 1-on-1 meetings with their manager are 3.5 times more likely to be engaged at work (source).

When structured thoughtfully, 1-on-ones help managers:

• Build trust and psychological safety
• Identify blockers before they become bottlenecks
• Support career development and employee retention
• Scale people-first culture across growing teams

Whether you’re onboarding a new hire, preparing for a skip-level conversation, or doing weekly check-ins, the templates below offer ready-to-use frameworks for stronger, more intentional conversations.

📈 Closing a project? Use this project meeting guide to run lightweight retros alongside end-of-cycle 1-on-1s.

🗓 Weekly One-on-One Meeting Template (for Managers)

Why it matters: Weekly check-ins are your best shot at building trust and unblocking progress.

Your agenda:

• Personal Check-In: Start with “How’s your week going?” or “Anything exciting outside work lately?”
• Work Highlights: Ask what they’ve accomplished recently and what’s on deck.
• Roadblocks: Dig into what’s slowing them down and how you can help.
• Feedback Exchange: Offer feedback and invite them to give some back.
• Growth Focus: Explore skill-building, stretch goals, or areas they want to own.
• Next Steps: Agree on clear takeaways and who’s responsible for what.

🧠 Tip: Use a shared Google Doc or async tool like Videolink to track progress over time.

🚀 New Hire Onboarding Check-Ins

Why it matters: Onboarding isn't just about orientation – it's about confidence, clarity, and connection.

Meeting progression:

• Week 1: Welcome & Setup
  • Ask: “What surprised you so far?” or “Is anything unclear?”
• Week 2: Role Confidence
  • Ask: “Where do you feel clear, and where do you need more guidance?”
• Week 4: Feedback & Growth
  • Ask: “What’s been most helpful? What can we improve in your onboarding process?”

🧭 Pro move: Include a welcome video and async resources so every new hire feels personally supported.

📈 Performance Review 1-on-1 Meeting Template

Why it matters: Reviews aren’t just about past performance – they’re opportunities to re-align and re-energize.

Your conversation guide:

• Reflect together: “What are you proud of? What felt hard?”
• Share honest feedback (from both sides).
• Revisit goals: “Are your priorities still aligned with team strategy?”
• Discuss next steps: trainings, mentorship, or promotion paths.

🗂 HR tip: Use this as a consistent structure for all managers during review cycles.

🏛 Skip-Level One-on-Ones (for Senior Leaders)

Why it matters: Skip-levels give you unfiltered insight into your org's health and employee experience.

Questions to ask:

• “What’s one thing your manager is doing well?”
• “Where do you think our team could communicate better?”
• “What’s something leadership should hear more often?”
• “Are you getting enough support to grow in your role?”

🛡 Reminder: Frame the session as safe space – not a hidden performance review.

🔁 How to Roll These Out Across Your Team

• Embed in Google Docs and share links in calendar invites
• Add to Notion or Confluence as part of your internal playbook
• Record async updates with Videolink to reduce meeting load
• Encourage ICs to contribute to the agenda before every meeting

📚 Looking for more formats? Explore Meeting Agenda Templates for Every Team for sales, leadership, HR, and async teams.

🧠 FAQ: One-on-One Meetings Done Right

What makes a good one-on-one meeting agenda?

The best ones start with a check-in, include progress/blockers, create space for feedback, and wrap with clear actions.

How often should you run one-on-ones?

Weekly is ideal. But biweekly can work too – especially if paired with async updates.

Can I use these templates in Google Docs or async tools?

Absolutely. They’re flexible – whether you’re running remote 1:1s, sharing async notes, or using a template inside HR software.

✨ Scale Better Conversations with Agendalink

Want to ditch scattered notes and run better meetings? Agendalink helps you organize 1-on-1s, share structured agendas, and send async video updates – all in one place.

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