Running effective one-to-ones: agendas, wellbeing check-ins, early concerns and notes
For team leaders and managers who already hold regular one-to-ones and want them to do more. Complete '1:1s and recognition for new leads' first: it covers the purpose, rhythm and basic structure of one-to-ones. This course goes deeper: linking the agenda to objectives and development, running a wellbeing check-in using HSE's six areas of work-related stress, raising an early performance or conduct concern with facts, writing notes you'd be comfortable for the employee to see in a subject access request, and recognising when a topic must go to HR, occupational health or a formal procedure. It draws on UK public guidance (Acas, HSE, ICO) with a US federal example (OPM). It is not legal advice; your organisation's procedures and HR team decide formal matters.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Length
- About 105 minutes
- Contents
- 5 lessons · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 10 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Plan a one-to-one agenda that links the person's own topics to their objectives, progress and development
- Run a wellbeing check-in using HSE's six areas of work-related stress: demands, control, support, relationships, role and change
- Raise an early performance or conduct concern in a one-to-one, prepared with facts and a clear next step
- Write one-to-one notes that are factual, shared with the employee and fit to disclose in a subject access request
- Decide when a one-to-one topic must move to HR, occupational health or a formal procedure
Course outline
- 1.Planning a one-to-one agenda linked to objectives, progress and developmentLesson · 18 min
- 2.Running a wellbeing check-in using HSE's six areasLesson · 20 min
- 3.Raising an early performance or conduct concern with facts and a next stepLesson · 18 min
- 4.Writing one-to-one notes that are factual, shared and fit for a subject access requestLesson · 16 min
- 5.Deciding when a one-to-one topic must move to HR, occupational health or a formal procedureLesson · 14 min
- 6.Running effective one-to-ones: agendas, wellbeing check-ins, early concerns and notes: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 14 questions
- 7.Running effective one-to-ones: agendas, wellbeing check-ins, early concerns and notes: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 8.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- Acas: Performance management: reviews and appraisals (regular check-ins, SMART objectives, written records)
- Acas: Problems with an employee's performance (capability, conduct, informal steps, improvement plans)
- Acas: Challenging conversations and how to manage them (guide, PDF)
- Acas: Managing work-related stress (causes and signs of stress)
- Acas: Supporting mental health at work
- HSE: Work-related stress: causes of stress at work (the six areas)
- HSE: Stress Talking Toolkits
- ICO: Subject access request Q and As for employers
- US OPM Performance Management and Accountability Playbook: Monitoring and Developing
See it with your own jobs and topics
Tell us about your team and we'll walk you through setup, from choosing jobs to your first skills check.