Have you ever felt like your calendar is bursting at the seams with one-on-one meetings? You’re not alone. Senior leaders often get caught in the endless cycle of back-to-back individual check-ins, thinking it’s the best way to stay connected with their teams. But what if that very habit is holding them back — and their teams too?
A recent thought-provoking article from Harvard Business Review, Why Senior Leaders Should Stop Having So Many One-on-Ones, challenges this conventional wisdom. It suggests that small, cross-functional “capability meetings” are far more effective for executive time management and organizational growth than an overload of individual meetings.
So, why should senior leaders reconsider their meeting habits? Let’s dive in.
The Hidden Cost of Too Many One-on-Ones
It’s natural to think one-on-ones foster personal connection and offer tailored guidance. But when the schedule becomes packed with them, key problems emerge:
- Time Drain: Hours spent in repetitive, often similar, meetings leaves less time for strategic thinking and big-picture leadership.
- Tunnel Vision: Leaders might focus too narrowly on individual issues instead of fostering team-wide solutions.
- Missed Synergies: Opportunities for cross-team learning and innovation get lost when leaders aren’t facilitating group interactions.
Imagine a leader bogged down by one-on-ones, unable to step back and see the bigger picture. This scenario isn’t just tough for the leader — it can stall the entire team’s momentum.
Enter Capability Meetings: The New Leadership Superpower
Instead of dozens of individual conversations, what if leaders hosted small, diverse groups focused on specific capabilities or challenges? These “capability meetings” create a dynamic forum where ideas collide, collaboration happens naturally, and leadership impact multiplies.
Benefits include:
- Amplified Impact: Leaders influence more people at once, spreading insights and encouragement broadly.
- Cross-Pollination: Different perspectives spark innovation and problem-solving.
- Empowered Teams: Group members learn from each other, reducing dependency on the leader for answers.
This format isn’t just time-saving — it’s transformative.
What This Means Beyond the Boardroom
The underlying lesson is universal: working smarter beats working harder. This principle resonates deeply for anyone on a journey requiring persistence, planning, and emotional strength — like building a family.
When you’re navigating complex paths such as fertility, efficient use of time and resources can make a world of difference. Take, for example, individuals and couples turning to at-home insemination kits. Products like the BabyMaker at-home insemination kit offer a cost-effective, private, and user-friendly alternative to clinical visits — empowering people to take control, reduce stress, and optimize their conception journey.
It’s about harnessing resources that fit your life and goals, just like leaders shifting from one-on-ones to capability meetings harness their team’s potential more effectively.
Small Changes, Big Wins
If you’re a leader, a parent-to-be, or even someone striving to master your daily hustle, this concept holds a powerful truth:
- Pause to Reflect: Are your current habits truly the best use of your time?
- Explore New Formats: Could group interactions or streamlined processes unlock more growth?
- Embrace Empowerment: Give others the space to contribute and learn together.
The future belongs to those who think creatively about how to work, live, and grow smarter—not just harder.
Ready to Revolutionize Your Approach?
Reducing excessive one-on-one meetings isn’t about less communication; it’s about more meaningful communication. It’s about quality over quantity. Leaders who adopt this mindset free themselves to lead with vision and inspire collective success.
And if you’re navigating your own challenging journey, whether fertility-related or beyond, remember that innovative solutions exist to support you every step of the way.
Explore thoughtful, accessible options tailored to your needs — like MakeAMom’s at-home insemination kits — and find the empowerment that comes from taking control of your path.
Change starts with a single brave step. What small shift could you make today that will yield big results tomorrow?
Let’s keep the conversation going. Share your thoughts or experiences below — how do you balance connection and efficiency in your life or work?
For more insights on leadership innovation, check out the original Harvard Business Review article here.