You’ve been tasked with leading effective remote meetings, but aren’t sure where to start. We’ve all been there - video calls full of awkward silences, talking over each other, and lack of meaningful discussion. It’s time to get strategic with our customizable meeting agenda template for effective online meetings.

With sections for one-on-one, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and salary review meetings, this ultimate guide will transform you into a productive meeting maestro. From suggested questions to driving development conversations through seamless video calls, you’ll master the art of employee engagement in remote work. In just minutes, you can customize a template that sets you and your team up for meeting magic. Read on to start scheduling your most effective sessions.

Setting the Agenda for Effective Online One-on-One Meetings

As a manager, preparing an agenda for your 1-on-1 meetings is key to making the most of the time you have with each team member. For remote meetings, having a solid plan in place is even more critical.

Focus on the employee

Ask open-ended questions to understand your employee's needs, goals, and priorities. Some examples:

• What steps can I take right now to progress my career with the company?

• What’s a skill you think I can learn that will help me do a better job?

• On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you at work? Are you proud of the work you do here?

Discuss key priorities

Review key priorities and projects, checking in on progress and roadblocks. Ask:

• What’s one thing we can do to improve the performance of the team?

• What can I do to help improve the performance of the team?

Provide feedback

Give specific feedback on what the employee is doing well and how they can improve. Ask:

• How am I doing with [this specific thing]?

• After a failure, what do you do to pick yourself up again?

Discuss career growth

Talk about career growth and development. Ask:

• What steps can I take right now to progress my career with the company?

• What’s a skill you think I can learn that will help me do a better job?

With the right questions and discussion points in place, your online one-on-one meetings will be highly effective in supporting and developing your team members remotely. The key is making the conversation collaborative and focusing the time on the employee and their needs.

Customizable Templates for Different Types of Remote Work Meetings

Weekly Catch-Up

For your weekly one-on-ones, use a template focused on productivity and team dynamics. Ask your direct report about their key priorities for the week, any roadblocks they foresee, and how you can support them. Discuss what’s working and not working with the team’s processes and collaboration. These recurring meetings are a chance to provide guidance and make sure your reports feel heard and supported.

Monthly Strategic Discussion

Monthly meetings should take a higher-level view. Discuss your direct report’s key priorities and goals for the next quarter and how those align with departmental objectives. Review their professional development and career path. Ask open-ended questions to gain insights into their morale, workload, work-life balance, and overall job satisfaction. Make these meetings a two-way dialog where you both share feedback and ideas.

Quarterly Performance Review

For quarterly performance reviews, use a template that evaluates key performance indicators and competencies. Discuss what your direct report has achieved over the past quarter, what they still need to work on, and how you can help them develop their skills. These meetings should focus on constructive feedback, recognition of wins, and planning for continued growth. Be specific with examples and collaboratively set new performance goals for the next quarter.

Remote meetings require extra effort to be effective. Using customizable templates for different types of one-on-ones will help ensure you have productive discussions, provide adequate support, and keep your team engaged and motivated, even from a distance. Meet consistently and be fully present by turning off notifications on your devices. The rewards of frequent, high-quality one-on-ones with your direct reports are well worth the time invested.

FAQs About Meeting Agenda Templates for Managers and Employees

What questions should managers ask employees during a one-on-one meeting?

As a manager, these meetings are a perfect opportunity to check in on your team members and make sure they feel supported. Ask open-ended questions like:

• What steps can I take to help progress your career?

• What skills would you like to improve? I’m happy to help you develop a plan.

• How are you feeling about your workload and work-life balance? Is there anything I can do to make things easier?

• What do you find most challenging or frustrating about your role? How can I provide better support?

What questions should employees ask their managers during a one-on-one meeting?

For employees, one-on-one meetings are a chance to get clarity, feedback, and guidance from your manager. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like:

• How am I doing in my role? Do you have any feedback for me?

• What are some ways I can take on more responsibility or advance my career?

• Are there any training or development opportunities available to help me improve my skills?

• Do you feel I’m contributing enough in team meetings and discussions? How can I provide more value?

Asking the right questions in your one-on-one meetings will lead to more productive discussions and help strengthen your working relationship. For managers and employees alike, come prepared with a list of questions and be ready to openly share your thoughts and concerns. These meetings are most valuable when both parties are fully engaged.

Conclusion

Now you have an awesome collection of one-on-one meeting templates to make your remote check-ins more productive than ever. With the right questions and focus areas tailored to each meeting's purpose, you can gain rich insights, align on goals, unblock issues, and strengthen your working relationship, whether you manage the person or report to them. Just download the template that fits your needs, personalize it to suit your work relationship, ask those key questions, and watch the productivity and collaboration soar!