Employee Development
Discover key takeaways from Wonderlic’s recent webinar on transforming one-on-ones through effective coaching. Learn why many 1:1s fall flat—and how small, science-backed shifts can boost engagement, performance, and retention.
Half of all one-on-ones aren’t delivering value. They’re flat, unclear, and often dreaded by both managers and employees.
That’s not just wasted time, it’s a missed opportunity to engage, develop, and retain your people. In our recent webinar, Making Every 1:1 Count, Wonderlic’s Tonya Lucas, Tim Rogers, and Scott Sivright explored why many one-on-ones fall short, and how managers can use effective coaching skills to transform them into one of the most powerful tools for engagement and performance.
Here are the highlights.
Webinar Speakers
Scott Sivright
Wonderlic's Head of Partnerships.
Tim Rogers
VP of Technology at Wonderlic.
The Problem with 1:1s
Research from Fast Company and Dr. Steven Rogelberg shows that roughly 50% of one-on-ones don’t deliver value. Instead of building relationships, clarity, or momentum, they too often cause confusion or even dread.
One big culprit? Ineffective coaching in the workplace. As Tonya put it:
“Even though we all know they’re important, one-on-ones are falling short when it comes to delivery.”
Why Feedback Matters More Than "Keep Doing What You're Doing"
Have you ever been in a one-on-one where the only feedback was “just keep doing what you’re doing”? On the surface it sounds positive, but in reality it’s vague and unhelpful, leaving employees in the dark about what’s working, what to improve, and how to grow.
That’s why providing feedback is essential to coaching. Without specific, actionable guidance, even high performers can stall out. As Tim Rogers explained, technical employees in particular crave mastery and development:
“They want to solve really complex problems. They want access to training. They want to advance their skills. One-on-ones are a great forum for those conversations.”
The Manager's Role in Engagement
If coaching feels like extra work, it’s not. It’s core to your job.
Gallup research shows that 70% of engagement is attributable to the manager. That means the way managers approach one-on-ones has an outsized impact on performance, retention, and culture.
Scott Sivright shared how this came to life in his early career:
“I was taught that one-on-ones were just for updates. I wasn’t leaving space for meaningful connection or coaching. The result was a lack of confidence across my team. Once I made coaching intentional, the clarity drove confidence, and the reps charted their own course.”
Science Backed Shifts for More Effective One-on-Ones
The science of meetings and coaching highlights several evidence-based shifts that can help managers make one-on-ones more effective. As a manager, be sure you are putting these into practice:
- Cadence and consistency: Weekly or biweekly 1:1s are ideal. Canceling or rescheduling erodes trust and signals lack of importance.
- Shared agendas: Both manager and employee should contribute. This prevents “Groundhog Day” meetings and keeps conversations strategic.
- Psychological safety: Create an environment where employees feel safe sharing struggles and ideas. As Scott put it, “Go first, model vulnerability so your employees know they can, too.”
- Personalization: Each employee approaches one-on-ones differently. Recognize that, and tailor your coaching style to fit.
These aren’t add-ons. They are the foundation of effective coaching techniques that drive engagement and results. They also tie directly to retention: when managers coach with consistency and personalization, employees stay longer, perform better, and align more deeply to company goals.
Personalization Through Wonderlic Develop
Something that came up time and time again: personalization.
Wonderlic Develop provides insights that help managers better understand their employees’ motivations, strengths, and growth areas. Instead of relying on intuition, managers can tailor their coaching with confidence.
Scott explained how this plays out in real life:
“Having a shared language around what attributes are causing roadblocks, and which ones you can lean on for success, supercharges conversations. It turns one-on-ones into real coaching moments.”
This is where the Develop story comes in. Develop does not replace your current coaching practices, it enhances them, giving managers the tools to lead more strategically and reduce the guesswork that often derails 1:1s.
By combining data-driven insights with consistent coaching practices, managers can deliver effective coaching and mentoring that actually sticks.
One Small Shift Can Change Everything
The message from the webinar was clear: small changes in how you approach one-on-ones can lead to big performance outcomes.
From setting the right cadence to building psychological safety, effective coaching is what transforms a 30-minute check-in into a high-value development conversation.
And when powered by Wonderlic Develop, those small shifts become scalable across teams, improving retention, strengthening coaching, and helping managers lead with confidence.
Ready to make your one-on-ones count? Download the Quick Start Checklist for Managers from the session and see how Wonderlic Develop can help you personalize coaching, boost retention, and drive performance.
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