(2019 - 3 of 10) Why Great 1-on-1s Are Like Perfect Formula 1 Pit Stops

Calibrate 2019 (3 of 10) - https://www.calibratesf.com/

“Why Great 1-on-1s Are Like Perfect Formula 1 Pit Stops“ - Kwasi Ohene-Adu, Goodwater Capital, Entrepreneur-in-Residence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCdkTYh6YEc&list=PL8iMj9kx_ykQP637PoLaHAqm8mGYf4yE1&index=4&t=0s

1-on-1s can be a real source of anxiety for both new and experienced managers. At some point, we all inevitably encounter situations where we dutifully go through the routine motions of 1-on-1s but deep down, we know that the conversation did not have the effect we were hoping for. Instead of clarifying, we confuse; instead of inspiring, we demoralize. I’ll share some strategies I’ve borrowed from pit stops in Formula One racing to inspire people and unlock their true potential.

About Kwasi:

Kwasi is former VP of Engineering at Goodwater Capital, where he indulged his passion for entrepreneurship by contributing to finding and building the very best consumer technology companies. He served by offering his diverse skillset in leadership, entrepreneurship and engineering. Previously, Kwasi was founding engineer at Highfive, where he built and led teams in backend infrastructure services. Prior to Highfive, Kwasi was founding engineer at Color Labs, where he built and and led the Android team. Prior to startups and venture capital, he had a successful engineering tenure at Google, where he was one of the first members on Google’s then new Google+ social initiative. He is happiest when building high performing teams as well as technology.

About Calibrate:

Calibrate was a conference for new engineering leaders hosted by seasoned engineering leaders. Organized and hosted by Sharethrough, it was conducted yearly in September, from 2015-2019 in San Francisco, California.

Transcript

1. Why Great 1-on-1s Are Like Perfect Formula 1 Pit Stops KWASI OHENE-ADU EIR / Goodwater Capital @okwasi
2. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS A Bit About Me GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
3. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Why do 1-on-1s? Building healthy personal relationships GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS • Trust • Aligning expectations • Problem solving
4. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS How I Approached My First 1:1s “I’m sooo gonna crush this! It can’t be that hard.” GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
5. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS How I Approached My First 1:1s Read books, watched videos, lacked experience GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
6. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS How I Approached My First 1:1s Focused on going through the motions, rather than the outcome GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
7. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS How I Approached My First 1:1s It was all about my views and what I wanted to communicate GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
8. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS How I Approached My First 1:1s Struggled to uncover underlying issues GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
9. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS How I Approached My First 1:1s Afraid to genuinely connect GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
10. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS My A-Ha Moment! GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
11. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS The Formula 1 Pit Stop Marvelously orchestrated dance GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
12. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS The Formula 1 Pit Stop Great Manager = Great Pit Stop Crew GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
13. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Ingredients of a Perfect Pit Stop GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS 1. Anticipation 2. Adaptation 3. Achievement Before During After
14. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Anticipation GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
15. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Anticipation Seek to have a full grasp of what’s really happening GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS • Collect your own observations • Get the take of others • Empathize; you were/are an engineer!
16. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Adaptation GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
17. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Adaptation Identify and focus on the highest value conversations GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS • Communicate agenda and flexibility • Be ready to listen • Be open to tangents; prioritize important items
18. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Achievement GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS
19. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Achievement It has to achieve a tangible outcome; “we talked” isn't enough GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS • End with at least one action item • Put them in writing and share with team member • Make progress on action items before next 1- on-1
20. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Your 1-on-1 Score Card GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Criteria Grade Team member did most of the talking P / F Team member and I were aligned on takeaways P / F Team member left with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation P / F We came up with shared action items P / F Team member’s perspectives match what I see and hear elsewhere P / F
21. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Trust
22. GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS Questions? GREAT 1:1S AND FORMULA 1 PIT STOPS