Do you even really have 121s?
You probably have regular work-in-progress check-ins with your team. But do you hold real 121s – dedicated time to focus on individuals’ growth, challenges, and performance? If not, you’re missing a crucial leadership tool.
Stop leaving it to chance
I often hear, “Oh, we catch up in the taxi on the way to client meetings” or “We chat over coffee in the morning”. These aren’t 121s.
You may find you resist scheduling them, thinking you’re too busy, or that informal chats will do the job. They won’t. Without structured, regular conversations, you risk missing key warning signs and failing to get the best from your team. You could even lose good employees.
Don’t just go through the motions
Great leaders don’t just manage work, they support, develop and nurture people.
121 meetings provide:
- A private, trusted space where team members can share issues before they become problems.
- A consistent opportunity to set and review performance goals.
- A chance to align expectations, ensuring everyone moves in the same direction.
When done well, they boost engagement, accountability and business performance – which, if you think about it, rather encapsulates the entire purpose of your job.
A simple, effective structure
1. Time-efficient: 30–40 minutes with a clear agenda:
2. HOW they’re doing – personal news, well-being, job satisfaction.
3. WHAT they’re doing – progress against performance objectives (not day-to-day tasks).
4. Frequency: At least monthly; more often for new or underperforming employees.
5. Minimal documentation: The team member records next steps and deadlines, ensuring they retain ownership.
Get started – how to set up 121s
- Explain the purpose:
- To support individual team members in doing their job and growing in themselves.
- To regularly check on their well-being.
- To review and improve business performance.
2. Outline how the agenda works:
- Discuss their well-being (HOW things are going).
- Review performance and set new objectives (WHAT they are doing).
3. Explain the record-keeping:
- For personal use between the two of you.
- What’s going well?
- Progress since last 121?
- Next steps and goals.
Keep these principles in mind
- A private setting and a confidential discussion.
- Listen actively—80:20 rule (they talk, you listen).
- Encourage them to bring solutions.
- Never cancel or allow interruptions – holding these meetings places a premium on time spent with the individual and they will feel valued and engaged. Cancelling or interrupting them sends a negative message.
When your team knows they’ll always have time with you, engagement soars, problems get solved early, and performance improves.
Get your 121s in the diary – and make them count.
Would you like a personal 121 with Kate?
What is a Leadership Power Hour?
A Leadership Power Hour gives you an hour of 121 time with Kate Mercer, an organisation leadership coach who has been working with successful SME business leaders for over 30 years.
Kate is the author of ‘A Buzz in the Building: How to build and lead a brilliant organisation’.
In your 121, you’ll establish what you’re hoping to achieve and work to achieve an actionable result by the end of your hour together
You might want to choose between different courses of action, get advice on a specific issue you are stuck with, or just need a sounding board.
Kate’s insights, suggestions and practical advice will enable you to come up with an actionable plan to move your business forward.
This is an effective and powerful way to resolve a niggling issue, and, for a small investment, to experience how useful organisation leadership coaching can be.
Book with Kate now for just £199 + VAT: 07801 259637