The Power of 1:1s for Any Leader (Even When You Don’t Nail It Every Time)

Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or you’ve been doing it for a while, one of the most powerful habits you can build or rebuild is consistent 1:1 meetings with your team.

Not perfect ones. Not always on time. And yes, sometimes you’ll have to cancel and reschedule. But consistent.

Your calendar speaks louder than your title. When you consistently create space for people, to listen to them, encourage, clarify, and challenge, you’re doing more than managing. You’re stewarding.

And stewardship is a Kingdom principle.

God places people under our leadership for a season and a reason. That means the person across from you in a 1:1 isn’t a project. They’re not a deliverable or a to-do list item. They are a person with purpose and your only agenda is to help them become the best version of themselves if that’s what they desire.

Sometimes that means listening. Sometimes that means challenging them to believe in themselves. And often, it just means being present because that alone creates the foundation for transformation.

People are not projects. Relationship always precedes performance.

I’ve seen this firsthand: performance improves over time when people feel safe, supported, and challenged in relationship. Not every week. Not always on your timeline. But consistently, over time performance follows trust.

That’s why 1:1s are sacred. They’re not just updates. They’re opportunities:

• To speak life into someone.

• To build clarity and alignment.

• To call out their strengths.

• To model integrity and consistency.

• To display a Kingdom mindset that values people over productivity.

Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:

• Follow-up matters. A short email recap after a 1:1 drives clarity, accountability, and shows respect for the conversation.

• Repetition brings reinforcement. People need to hear things more than once — in a meeting, in an email, and in real action.

• Leadership is less about answers and more about presence.

And truthfully I don’t always get it right. Sometimes I show up distracted. Sometimes I miss a week. But I’ve learned that faithful presence beats polished performance every time.

Leadership is seasonal. You won’t lead the same people forever. But while they’re under your care, steward their time, trust, and potential like it was given to you by God, because it was.

Whether you’re new to leading or you’ve been doing it for years, don’t underestimate what God can do through small, repeated acts of intentionality.

Leadership isn’t about control, it’s about Kingdom stewardship. It’s not about perfect outcomes, it’s about showing up consistently with love, truth, and grace.