How to prepare for a meeting with your manager

Managers get advice and training about how to sit down with their team and discuss key topics. But who teaches employees how to approach and prepare for meetings with your manager?

Meetings, reviews, evaluations, and 1:1s. They can be daunting for many. Even more so when you’re not sure how best to approach them. Training for these types of sit-downs only really targets managers. We didn’t think that was either sensible or fair. Great 1:1 sessions between managers and staff are highly-collaborative, and anxiety or uneasiness on the part of an employee-only hinders effectiveness.

So, we’ve recently compiled a short series looking at the more common meetings you might have with your boss. Each blog dives into some practical preparation tips you can use to make sure you’re ready to rock when it comes to the sit-down.

Preparing for meetings with your manager series

Use these links to jump to a particular section, or simply read on to see it all.

1)    How to prepare for your probation review with the boss

2)    How to prepare for a 1:1 meeting with your manager

3)    How to prepare for a project review meeting at work

4)    How to prepare for your next quarterly review with your boss

5)    How to prepare for a performance review with your manager

6)    How to prepare for a pay review meeting

7)    How to prepare for a meeting to discuss underperformance

8)    How to prepare for a meeting to discuss overperformance

9)    How to prepare for an exit interview that won’t burn bridges

How to prepare for your probation review with the boss

You’re smashing it out of the park in your new job, making friends, getting your head around the new processes and even managed to make ‘Surly’ Steve from Accounts laugh today. You’re flying high, and then, BAM, it’s probation review time.

No matter how well things have been going, this can be nerve-wracking for anyone.

Don’t worry though, we’ve got your back with this article looking at how to prepare for a probation review you can breeze through. Some top tips inside include:

• Digging out the job description
• Reflecting on your expectations
• Consider your next steps and future goals

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for your probation review with the boss

How to prepare for a 1:1 meeting with your manager

The 1:1 meeting is a cornerstone of a great employee-manager relationship. They’re your chance to have a relaxed sit-down with your manager, discuss the things that matter to you, and get the guidance and support you need in the short term. Yet, they require some prep work to be effective.

This article lays out some of your key steps to make sure the next time you sit down with your manager for a 1:1, you leave with a sense of accomplishment. There’s even a handy 6-step framework for having great 1:1s with your manager.

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for a 1:1 meeting with your manager

How to prepare for a project review meeting at work

If you’re part of a project team, chances are you’ll be asked to join a project review at some point. It might be mid-project, or perhaps at the end. It may be a group meeting or a series of 1:1s with the project lead. However it shapes up, it’ll be coming.

So, when it’s time to sit down and chat over the project with your colleagues, what should you cover?

Here’s a handy blog on all the hot topics you should prepare for when it comes to project reviews. The list includes:

• Prioritising what you’d like to get out of the meeting alongside everything else
• Running a self-review
• Speaking to the rest of the team

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for a project review meeting at work

How to prepare for your next quarterly review meeting with your boss

The processes behind a quarterly review are about three key things: reflection, planning, and support. A great quarterly review can set you up for success over the next three months, and beyond.

Read this article to get prepared for any upcoming quarterly reviews you’ve got with your manager. We cover the importance of:

• Getting on a quarterly review cadence
• Confronting your blockers and challenges
• Goal-setting and its role in you being a work superstar

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for your next quarterly review with your boss

How to prepare for a performance review with your manager

Performance reviews, love them or hate them, are likely a part of your working life. They get a bit of a bad rep, which is often deserved. But ran correctly, performance conversations can be super-useful for your development and career progression.

In this article we look at the steps you can take when preparing for a meeting with your manager that will make your next performance review not only something you look forward to, but something that helps you grow. This includes:

• The importance of collating your successes
• How a solid goal review is vital
• Prepping yourself to receive feedback

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for a performance review with your manager

How to prepare for a pay review meeting

Asking for a pay rise can be a daunting event. You don’t want to seem pushy but need to make a strong case. You don’t want to ask for too much that you look greedy, but often needs dictate your request. And what do you do if you get told “no”?

Take some of the stress out of the situation by reading this article looking at how best to prepare for pay reviews at work. In it, you’ll find top tips such as:

• Research the market to know your worth
• Review your recent work and its impacts
• Do a practice run

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for a pay review meeting

How to prepare for a meeting to discuss underperformance

Now this is never a meeting anyone looks forward to, but it may well be a meeting on your horizon. Underperformance can plague as all from time to time, be it for a few hours, days, or sometimes longer. The important thing to do is to confront your underperformance in a meeting with your manager, and prepare to have an honest and open chat about it.

This article helps shine a light on the things you can do before you meet to make sure everything’s discussed, and that you get the support you need. This may include:

• Being proactive in putting things right
• Working out the cause(s) of your underperformance
• Brainstorming possible solutions and where you’ll need help

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for a meeting to discuss underperformance

How to prepare for a meeting to discuss overperformance

At first, you might scratch your head here. Surely overperformance is a good thing, right? Why would it need discussing? Well, overperformance can be just as destructive to an organisation as underperformance. And it’s far more harmful to you as an employee.

If your manager call a meeting to chat about overperformance, then this article lays out some of the reasons why and what you can do to prepare before the meeting, including:

• How to spot the signs of overperformance
• Reflecting on your workload
• Being honest in your prep and when talking to your manager

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for a meeting to discuss overperformance

How to prepare for an exit interview that won’t burn bridges

Exit interviews are usually something most employees avoid (and employers too sometimes). But ran openly and with mutual respect, they can be illuminating for your company and cathartic for you.

If you’d like to know whether you should take part in an exit interview, or how to prep for one, check out this article. It’s packed full of tips to help you prepare for a great exit interview such as:

• Weighing up the pros and cons of taking part
• Keeping things professional
• Using specific examples where possible

💡 Read the full blog here How to prepare for an exit interview that won’t burn bridges

No matter the meeting, we’ve got you covered

There you have it, plenty of helpful advice and tips on how to prepare for your next meeting with your manager. No matter the reason for the sit-down, there should be something here to help you plan for an effective discussion. And if there isn’t, drop us a message to let us know what you’d like to see.

Get more from our latest best practice guide: How to have more effective performance conversations. Download your copy below 👇