This is a common management practice now, but in short a kick off 1:1 is a chance to write a social contract between a manager and a direct that defines how the managerial relationship will work. It helps you understand motivations and ambitions, what buttons you should probably avoid pressing and how to provide feedback. I was first introduced to the practice at Bulb (thanks Tom Godkin!) and I've used it for a while now - I find it to be an effective way to quickly build a much stronger relationship with a new report.

Kick Off 1:1

This document is intended to be a first step together where we contract to understand what you need to get the most out of our 1:1 conversations. If you want to read more, Lara Hogan (who came up with the idea) has a good blog post on why Kick Off 1:1s are important.

Contract

The contract helps us to make sure we’re all on the same page. It creates alignment between manager and report and ensures we understand what we need to get the most of this 1:1 session, and how we can hold each other accountable to achieve that.

Our Aim

We’re collaborating to find the best and most effective way of working together.
Understanding between us on how do you like and need to be managed

Questions

Write down your answers to each question to form your written contract, keep them brief (a few sentences max). Remember this is a two way discussion so throw some of these questions at the manager as well - for example, how will you provide feedback upwards? The whole process should take around 30-40 minutes to complete.

Why did you join company? How does this role fit into your overall career aspirations?

What do you enjoy most at work? Which parts of your role give you most satisfaction?

What frustrates you about your role? What makes you see red at work?

Talk to me about your previous managers - what did you / didn’t you like about their management style?

How often would you like to have 1:1’s? What would you like to use this time for?

How do you prefer to receive feedback? (Verbal, written, in-person)?

How do you prefer to give feedback? (Verbal, written, in-person)

What do you need from me, as your manager, to be really successful?

What could be a challenge for us working together?

What do you see as your strengths vs areas for improvement or development?

How might I know if the support that I’m offering isn’t going well?

What do you need more, less or the same from me, as your manager, to help you be more productive, engaged and happy in your work?

# Kick Off 1:1

This document is intended to be a first step together where we **contract** to understand what you need to get the most out of our 1:1 conversations. If you want to read more, Lara Hogan (who came up with the idea) has a [good blog post](https://larahogan.me/blog/first-one-on-one-questions/) on why Kick Off 1:1s are important.

## Contract

The contract helps us to make sure we’re all on the same page. It creates alignment between manager and report and ensures we understand what we need to get the most of this 1:1 session, and how we can hold each other accountable to achieve that. 

### Our Aim

- We’re collaborating to find the best and most effective way of working together.
- Understanding between us on how do you like and need to be managed

## Questions

Write down your answers to each question to form your written contract, keep them brief (a few sentences max). Remember this is a two way discussion so throw some of these questions at the manager as well - for example, how will you provide feedback upwards? The whole process should take around 30-40 minutes to complete. 

**Why did you join _company_? How does this role fit into your overall career aspirations?**

**What do you enjoy most at work? Which parts of your role give you most satisfaction?**

**What frustrates you about your role? What makes you see red at work?**

**Talk to me about your previous managers - what did you / didn’t you like about their management style?**

**How often would you like to have 1:1’s? What would you like to use this time for?**

**How do you prefer to receive feedback? (Verbal, written, in-person)?**

**How do you prefer to give feedback? (Verbal, written, in-person)**

**What do you need from me, as your manager, to be really successful?**

**What could be a challenge for us working together?**

**What do you see as your strengths vs areas for improvement or development?**

**How might I know if the support that I’m offering isn’t going well?**

**What do you need more, less or the same from me, as your manager, to help you be more productive, engaged and happy in your work?**