8 questions you can copy
A 60 minute plan in five parts, and the questions that fit it.
What motivates them
- Which part of your work do you enjoy most?
- What would you like to do more of?
- What makes a good day here?
Learning and support
- Is there any training that would help you now?
- What do you wish someone had shown you when you started?
Feedback for you
- What is one thing I could do differently to help you?
- How do you like to get feedback: in the moment, in writing, or here?
- Was I clear when I explained [TOPIC]?
How to use these
- Welcome (0 to 10 minutes): say what you are glad about and that you want a two-way talk.
- How they like to work (10 to 25 minutes): feedback, updates, what helps them. They choose what to share.
- What is expected (25 to 40 minutes): the main things for the first weeks, how you will know it is going well, who to ask about what.
- How you will meet (40 to 50 minutes): how often, how long, and what you should do more or less of.
- Agree and close (50 to 60 minutes): what you will each do this week.
What to avoid
- Do not ask about family or health. Let them choose what they share about how they work best.
- Write only facts and agreements. Your employer may keep these notes and the person may ask to see them.
Official pages. Not legal or HR advice. If a one-to-one touches a complaint, a warning, discrimination, health or a safety matter, stop, listen, say you will speak to HR and follow your employer's procedure.
- Acas: Reviews and appraisals (what a review is for), read 5 October 2026
- EEOC: Prohibited employment policies and practices (pointer only, for US readers), read 5 October 2026
UK readers: the free Acas helpline is on its contact page. US readers: see the EEOC page and your employer's HR team.
What the full kit adds
This page shows 8 of them. The kit has the rest, and the files you fill in.
One-to-one meetings: agendas, questions and openers
Six agendas to fill in, 120 questions by purpose and 16 opening lines for awkward topics, with a note sheet and a follow-up message.
What is in it
- All 120 questions in 12 groups by purpose (this page shows 8)
- 6 agendas to fill in (Word) and a note sheet
- 16 opening lines for awkward topics, the follow-up message and a one-page guide
- 2 finished examples, including a one-to-one after a public mistake
$9, one price, no subscription. 30-day refund. Works with no AI.
Questions people ask
How long should the first one-to-one be?
The kit's plan is 60 minutes in five parts: welcome, how they like to work, what is expected, how you will meet, and agree and close.
What should a new employee leave knowing?
What is expected, who to ask, and how you will work together. That is the aim of the kit's first-meeting agenda.
Can I ask about their life outside work?
Do not ask about family or health. Let them choose what to share about how they work best.
Is this legal or HR advice?
No. It is general wording. If a conversation turns into a complaint, a warning, discrimination, health or anything formal, stop and speak to HR first. In the UK, Acas explains the steps.
More
- One on one meeting agenda: a 30 minute weekly check-in
- One on one questions about career and growth: 10 to ask
- All the words for managing people
- Free: 20 opening lines for hard conversations
General wording, not legal or HR advice. For anything formal, speak to HR. In the UK, Acas explains the steps. Official pages read 5 October 2026.