1:1 meeting questions for managers

Are you ready for an abundance of questions to ask during one-on-one meetings? Let’s go…

Last Updated Mar 27, 2026

Two women engaging in a serious one-on-one meeting in a plant-filled office. They are seated opposite each other at a large wooden table with laptops and mugs, depicting a manager and employee preparing to discuss performance feedback and coaching, aligned with one-on-one meeting questions for managers.

Contents

Key points:

How to structure your one-on-one (1:1) meeting
Questions for engagement, roadblocks and happiness
Questions for learning and professional development
Questions for managers (getting feedback for yourself)

Every great manager knows that their team is their biggest asset. To set your team and business up for success, having the right communication methods in place is essential. Regular 1:1s are a big part of this.

What exactly are 1:1s?

1:1s are an effective way to communicate with your direct report in a safe and honest environment. They’re designed to increase productivity, engagement and overall happiness. Strengthening these relationships can lead to reduced turnover and a more thriving workplace culture.

The starting point for any successful 1:1 comes down to preparation. We suggest choosing 5–10 questions and sending them to your direct report to fill out or consider beforehand.

How to structure your one-on-one meeting

Effective one-on-ones should cover a variety of topics over time. In addition to operational tasks, you should regularly discuss alignment, wellbeing, growth and career aspirations.

Frequency: Try not to go more than two weeks without checking in, even if it’s just a quick coffee catch-up, with a more detailed conversation happening monthly.

The Questions

Questions for employee engagement

What are you proud of from last week?
How do you feel like your week has gone?
What are your priorities for next week?
Do you feel as though you were recognized for good work this week?
Do you feel like you are using your strengths in your role?
Is there anything you’re working on that you don’t like doing?

Questions for roadblocks and challenges

What are your roadblocks right now?
What is the main cause of this roadblock?
How can I help you overcome these challenges?
Is any of your work confusing you right now?
On a scale of 1–10, how likely do you think you are to overcome this challenge?
Are you procrastinating on anything right now?

Questions for employee happiness

Rate your happiness on a scale of 1 to 10.
What needs to happen to make your happiness a 10?
How are you feeling about your work/life balance right now?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how stressed are you right now?
Would you recommend working at our company to your friends and family?
Is there anything making you feel annoyed or upset in your role?

General communication and life updates

How was your weekend?
What has been the highlight of your week outside of work?
What have you been reading, watching, or listening to recently?
Are you on track to achieve your personal goals for the year?

Questions for learning and development

What is one thing you have learned at work this week?
Are there any skills you would like to improve?
Is there any new technology you think would make you more productive?
In what way do you learn best?
Is there one area you’d like more feedback on?

Personal and professional development

Where do you see yourself in six months? One year? Five years?
What is your dream role?
If you had to specialize in one area, what would it be?
How can I help you achieve your career goals?
Do you need help defining your career goals?

Questions for managers (feedback for you)

What can I do as your manager to support you in achieving your goals?
Is there anything specific you’d like to learn from me?
Would you like me to be more or less involved with your work?
Do you have any feedback for me?
Do you like my management style? If not, what do you prefer?
Do you think I’m responsive enough to your questions and requests?

Get started with a 1:1 meeting template

Now that you have picked your questions, it’s time to put them into action. Using a consistent template helps ensure you don’t just focus on “to-do lists” but actually dive into the engagement and growth of your team.

Employment Hero’s performance management features can help you set recurring 1:1 meetings, track notes and monitor OKR progress all in one place. Reach out to us today to see how we can help you streamline your Canadian payroll and HR compliance.

Ready to streamline your 1:1 meetings?

Book a demo