One on One Manager Meetings At Age 50

Approaching 27 years in the workforce with a variety of managers, I have seen my One On One meetings transition from the “What would you like to do with your career?” to “Project Updates and issue resolution.” From the two classifications, the one that works best for me is the Project Updates and issue resolution. This comes from the realization that career planning with the helpful guidance of a senior leader in your organization is only good for so long. Eventually, your age works against you for a “Career” plan, and using your One on One meeting is better served to show your ability to get stuff done in your organization.

Providing a status update during a One on One meeting goes directly against the great advice offered by talented folks at GetLighthouse. After years of attempting career planning during the meetings, I find that there comes a time when your age does not fit all the characteristics of the One On One Model. The days of asking: “What do you want to be when you grow up”? are behind you at the age of 50. At age 50, you are the only person that can take the necessary steps to find that new role. Finding that new role comes from networking inside and outside your organization and starting to market yourself on various channels, LinkedIn, Medium.com to be discovered.

Using your One on One meeting for the status updates also gives you the chance to get your manager’s time to focus on any issues that you have emailed them over the week and did not get a response.

Instead of focusing on “you” during the One on One meeting, the status update time can be used with your manager to discuss suggestions you have for improvement in the group. In my status update, I start off with suggestions for software tools that would help to automate myself out of a job. (On a side note if you are not thinking of automation in your role, then you are in for a surprise!) Starting off with a light discussion of the software tools is a neutral discussion and can be seen as a positive way to make things better. After leading with the software tools, I shift to the update on each project. In the update, I cover: 1)Any decisions needed 2)Confirming the manager attendance at any upcoming meetings 3)Providing links to the slide decks that will be used in the meetings and 4)Confirming the next meeting time.

Using the One on One meeting for a status update is not the preferred method for those that are earlier in their career and will achieve a greater role in the future. For those that are late in their career and will only find a new career through the people they know or dumb luck, One on One meetings are more productive with sharing your suggestions for organization improvement and project updates. Providing project updates will make your day easier.