Episode 227

227. How to Run Effective One-on-Ones That Actually Improve Performance

Are 1:1s a waste of time? Not if you’re leading a growing team.

In this episode host Jackie Koch challenges the rising trend of skipping one-on-one meetings and explains why most leaders can’t afford to follow that advice. You’ll learn what great 1:1s actually look like, how they improve trust, performance, and retention, and how to run them without adding chaos to your calendar.

Whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned CEO, this episode will help you lead your team better with one of the most underrated leadership tools out there.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why some high-profile CEOs have ditched 1:1s—and why that doesn’t apply to you
  • The real cost of skipping 1:1s (burnout, blindspots, and turnover)
  • A simple structure for running effective, low-lift 1:1s
  • How to tailor your 1:1s to different team members and situations
  • Coaching-style questions that help your team solve problems and grow
  • What former Facebook exec Julie Zhuo learned about 1:1s after 13 years under Mark Zuckerberg

Perfect For:

  • Startup founders
  • Small business owners
  • Team leads and first-time managers
  • Anyone who wants to lead with more intention and less reactivity

Free Resource:

Grab the HR + Hiring Essentials Playbook, packed with templates and tips to manage and grow your team

Visit peopleprinciples.co to download


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About the Podcast

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World's Greatest Boss

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About your host

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Jackie Koch

Hey, I’m Jackie Koch. I have over 15 years of experience prospecting talent and building teams for Fortune 500 companies, startups and small businesses in all types of industries.  Technically, I have an MBA from Concordia University, although I’d argue I learned more about growing and scaling a modern business over the last 5 years in the LA tech start up scene. There I built out recruiting and People Operations teams for high growth tech start ups. I love entrepreneurs and being one at heart, I started my own business during the pandemic. I’m the founder and CEO of People Principles where I help founders scale through fractional recruiting and people operations services.