Most good leaders I know are caught in a real contradiction. On one hand, the busyness of back-to-back meetings, constant emails, and tight deadlines. On the other, a genuine desire to better connect, support, and listen to their people. But let’s be honest: you don’t always have that luxury of time, and neither does your team. That’s where the 5 minute 1:1 can help. It’s deceptively simple, but a valuable tool that can help you lift both your team’s performance and their engagement.
🧠 LEARN something.
Before we dive in, we need to first break through a couple of common mindsets. These need a reframe if you’re going to make the 5-minute 1:1 meetings work for you. First, time doesn’t equal value. A well-executed five-minute conversation can be more impactful than an hour of small talk. Second, you don’t “connect” with your team the same way you connect with your friends. Your direct reports don’t need another mate, they need a leader who adds real leadership value. That’s why I challenge leaders whose only go-to strategy to build connection is taking people out for coffee or lunch (like you would with a friend). Nice to do that too, but it’s not the only strategy. Substance matters. Combine value and connection, and the 5-minute 1:1 can become a great technique for your leadership toolbox.
This isn’t a novel idea. It’s been around for ages. Even in the military, we used similar concepts to stay connected and lead effectively in demanding environments. But it’s getting more attention lately in fast-paced businesses, where leaders are more time-conscious and hate meetings for the sake of meetings. More famously, it also gained attention in 2024 when Elon Musk reportedly spent 18 hours doing five-minute 1:1s with every xAI staff member. That’s extreme; and I’m not suggesting you should do that. But the principle still holds true. Short, sharp 1:1s help leaders cut through the noise, uncover real barriers, and stay connected. Just as importantly, when done right and done regularly, they also help you prioritise and make time for those who actually needs those longer meetings – for coaching, mentoring, or deep dives into areas that require more time and focus. Your time and focus are all you have to give as a leader. So use them wisely.
🤔 REFLECT on an idea.
“Attention is the currency of leadership.”
Ronald A. Heifetz
This quote cuts to the real challenge with 5-minute 1:1s – it’s not about finding time, it’s about bringing focus. Listening well often takes more effort than talking. The value of these short check-ins doesn’t come from your words, but from your ability to be fully present and listen. No distractions. No multitasking. Just five minutes of real attention and that’s often more powerful than a full hour on autopilot.
😊 SMILE a little.
“Five minutes isn’t enough,” Says the leader who just spent ten minutes rewording that same email to sound casually and not too bossy. 🤣
✅ DO IT to get results.
Now the part you’re probably wondering. How do you actually run a 1:1 in just 5 minutes? It’s pretty simple: let them lead the agenda. Don’t try to compress a normal meeting agenda into 5 minutes or create some sort of a check list or tick boxes. That never works. If you do these often, you can just focus on one meaningful thing. Here’s how to do it in three steps:
- Step 1: Start with them. “What’s on your mind?” or “What’s the one thing we need to discuss?”
- Step 2: Clarify or reflect. “So what I’m hearing is…” Quickly reflect or ask a follow-up. Keep it sharp.
- Step 3: Close with intent. Don’t leave it hanging. Agree on an action, next step, or schedule time for a deeper convo.
- Tip for YOU: Be fully present, it’s 5 minutes of real focus.
- Tip for THEM: Encourage them to come prepared. Otherwise, you’ll spend 5 minutes trying to figuring out what they’re going on about!
🌱 How we can support you and your team.
We provide strategic leadership solutions tailored to align with your business strategy, size, and budget. We can support your with:
- 1:1 Leadership and Performance Coaching
- Team Coaching, for high performing teams
- 1:1 Health & Lifestyle Coaching for busy stressed leaders.
- Workshops, offsites and team development.
- Or our flagship individual Leadership Coaching Programs.
Kia pai tō wiki
Kenny Bhosale
CEO & Founder, The Bridge Leaders
