The guide
Everything you need to know about the new manager One-on-One checklist
What Is the New Manager One-on-One Checklist?
This checklist guides the first one-on-ones a newly appointed or newly assigned manager holds with each team member. It focuses on building trust fast, learning how each person works, understanding their goals, and setting expectations for how the two will work together. It is designed for that critical early window when a manager is establishing credibility and relationships with a team they have just inherited or formed.
Why Use a New Manager One-on-One Checklist
The first weeks set the tone for the entire manager relationship, and first-time managers rarely know what to ask. A checklist prevents them from jumping straight into tasks before earning trust. It prompts questions about working styles, past frustrations, career goals, and communication preferences, giving the manager a real map of the team quickly and showing employees that their new boss is genuinely interested in them.
How to Use This New Manager One-on-One Checklist
Hold an individual meeting with each report in the first week or two. Lead with listening: ask how they like to work, what has helped or hindered them before, and what they want from you. Share your own working style and expectations plainly. Avoid making sweeping changes yet. Note what you learn about each person and use it to shape ongoing one-on-ones.
