The most important meeting of your week: Questions to ask your boss in one-on-ones

One-on-one meetings with your manager are more than just a regular calendar fixture. These meetings are a key driver of engagement, growth, and success at work. But while these conversations are crucial, many employees (and even managers) haven’t been trained on how to make them effective.

In this guide, we’ll cover why one-on-ones matter and share practical questions you can ask to turn them into meaningful career moments.

Most managers hold regular one-on-one meetings—and for good reason. These check-ins are a dedicated space to remove roadblocks, support employee wellbeing, and stay aligned on key projects. Common topics often include growth, performance, and motivation.

But running great one-on-ones isn’t always easy. Managers frequently face challenges like making the conversations feel valuable, encouraging employees to contribute to the agenda, and keeping the dialogue productive.

The takeaway? One-on-ones are a powerful opportunity to align, grow, and lead up. And your manager may be hoping you’ll take more initiative to shape the conversation. So, how can you make your one-on-ones a real tool for your personal growth?

Even the best managers won’t always know what you need. These questions will help you take the lead, get clarity, and drive your development.

1. Check in on expectations

Set the foundation for trust and performance by getting clarity on what’s working, and what’s not.

• What am I doing that’s working well? What would you like to see more of?
• Is there anything I should stop or change?
• Where could I improve, and how can I get there?
• What do you want us to walk away with from today’s meeting?

2. Discuss growth and career development

Your growth is a shared responsibility—but only you can own the direction.

• What roles could be a good fit for me in the future?
• What skills should I focus on to grow or do my current job better?
• Are there responsibilities I could take on to build my experience?
• Can we explore coaching, mentoring, or training to help me with [skill/topic]?
• Who in the business should I get to know better, and could you help make that connection?

3. Align on priorities

Use this time to ensure your work is focused where it matters most.

• What’s your top priority right now?
• Are there any tasks we could pause or deprioritize?
• Is there anything coming up that I should be preparing for?
• Do you feel I’m prioritizing well? How could I improve in this area?

4. Talk about resourcing

Don’t let a lack of support become a barrier to success—speak up.

• I’m hitting a wall on [project]—is there a tool or resource we could try?
• Are there areas where you see gaps in team resourcing?
• I’m working toward [goal]—could you help with [specific resource or support]?

5. Offer help

Great teams go both ways. These questions build trust and show leadership.

• What’s something I can take off your plate?
• What are you finding most challenging right now?
• How can I help the team run more smoothly?
• Is there anything I can do to support you with your priorities?

Need help making the most of your one-on-ones?
Go1 can help. Our offering includes courses on management, personal growth, and much more. Help your team develop the necessary skills to create a strong culture of learning.