Are you getting what you need from this?

Is the question my manager asked me at the end of our regular 1-1.

I like those 1-1's. Most weeks I turn up with a list of things I've accomplished and the lessons learned in the process along with a list of "where I need your help" items. Sometimes it's a list of things I want to talk through, sometimes it's technical advice, sometimes I want her to tell me what I should do. But there is great utility in celebrating the wins and getting help with the gnarly

But recently, her final question, pulled me up short, "Are you getting what you need from this meeting?" It made me reflect on the process we were using and made think on what perhaps I wasn't bringing up. And it led to a deeper discussion about ways of working, the challenges of everyone being busy, the frustrations of email, Slack or Teams messages being ignored and the delays caused by such

That question was an invitation to explore, to examine process and feelings and results. And that exploration took us to some interesting places. It also gave rise to the realization I would ask this question too...

Managers: when was the last time you asked this question with your team members?

Employees: when was the last time you asked this question of your manager?