How to Request a Meeting With Your Boss: A Step-by-Step Guide

Requesting a meeting with your boss can seem intimidating, but it’s an important part of developing your career. One-on-one meetings allow you to build rapport, ask questions, and get feedback directly from your manager. Done right these meetings can help you succeed.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover how to properly request a meeting with your boss and make the most of your time during the conversation.

Why Request a One-on-One Meeting?

Here are some of the key benefits of scheduling regular one-on-one meetings with your manager

• Strengthen your relationship. These private meetings are a chance to establish trust and improve understanding between you and your boss.

• Discuss progress and challenges. Update your manager on your recent work and current projects. Seek their expertise to overcome any obstacles.

• Ask for feedback. Gain valuable insights on your job performance and areas for improvement.

• Share your ideas. Pitch new initiatives or process changes you feel could benefit the team and company.

• Explore growth opportunities. Discuss your skills, interests, and future goals. Your boss can advise you on potential career paths.

• Get mentorship. Your manager’s experience can help you continue developing both hard and soft skills. Their guidance can help you excel.

By making one-on-one meetings a regular occurrence, both you and your manager reap these advantages.

When to Request a Meeting

Timing your meeting request carefully increases the chances your boss will accept. Consider these factors:

• Schedule availability: Check your manager’s calendar and identify windows where they have no conflicts. Early morning or late afternoon tends to work best.

• Project timeline: If you want to discuss a current assignment, request a meeting just before a key milestone or deadline.

• Performance review cycle: Aim to meet shortly before or after your formal review to supplement the discussion.

• Recent issues: If you need to address a particular problem, don’t let too much time elapse before reaching out.

• Length of time since last check-in: Follow up if it’s been more than a month since your last one-on-one.

Choose your timing based on the primary purpose of your meeting. This shows you value your manager’s time.

Best Practices for Requesting a Meeting

Follow these tips to increase your chances of a prompt, positive response from your boss:

• Use the right medium: Email works for most meeting requests. But consider using your company’s instant messaging platform if that’s your manager’s preferred method of communication.

• Keep it short and direct: Get to the point right away. State clearly that you want to request a meeting.

• Note the purpose: Explain upfront the main topics, issues, or goals you want to discuss.

• Propose specific dates/times: Provide 2-3 options for days and times that work for you. Give your manager flexibility.

• Specify duration: A 30- or 60-minute meeting is standard. Adjust this as needed based on your agenda.

• Follow up: If your manager hasn’t replied after 2-3 days, send a polite follow-up email.

With an organized, concise request, you’re much more likely to get on your boss’s calendar.

Email Template Examples

Here are some email template examples for requesting a meeting with your manager:

Subject line: Meeting request to discuss Q2 goals

Dear [manager’s name],

I hope you’re doing well. I would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss plans and goals for Q2. There are a few initiatives I wanted to run by you and get your input on.

Thank you,

[Your name]

Subject line: Meeting request for semi-annual review

Hi [manager’s name],

My priorities for our meeting would be:

• Reviewing my contributions over the past 6 months
• Discussing areas where I excel versus opportunities for improvement
• Setting goals for the next 6 months

Thank you,

[Your name]

Subject line: Request for 1:1 meeting

Good morning [manager’s name],

I hope you had a nice weekend. I’m writing to request a 30-minute one-on-one meeting at your earliest convenience.

The primary topics I’d like to cover are:

• Brainstorming ideas to improve our team’s productivity
• Providing updates on the [project name] launch timeline
• Gathering feedback on my work over the past quarter

Best,
[Your name]

Tips for the Meeting Itself

Once your manager confirms the meeting, do these things to make the most of your one-on-one:

• Set an agenda: Identify 2-3 priority discussion topics and questions to cover. Send this to your boss ahead of time.

• Come prepared: Bring key documents, updates, or talking points related to your agenda.

• Take notes: This helps you remember important action items, feedback, and guidance.

• Listen actively: Don’t just wait for your turn to talk. Focus on understanding your manager’s perspective.

• Mind the time: Stick to your allotted meeting duration. If needed, schedule follow-ups to continue in-depth discussions.

• Express appreciation: Thank your boss sincerely for their time and insights before wrapping up.

Following up after the meeting is just as important. Be sure to implement any action items agreed upon and share key takeaways with stakeholders.

Sample Follow-Up Email

Here is an example follow-up email after meeting with your manager:

Subject line: Thank you for our one-on-one meeting

Hi [manager’s name],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me earlier today. I really appreciated the opportunity to discuss [key topics covered].

Here are some of my key takeaways from our conversation:

• [Feedback provided]
• [New project or goals outlined]
• [Areas you’ll work on improving]

Thanks again for the helpful advice and direction. I look forward to keeping you updated on my progress.

Best,

[Your name]

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I ask for regular one-on-one meetings?

In your initial meeting request or during the first one-on-one, share with your manager that you find these meetings highly valuable. Request their thoughts on meeting more regularly, such as monthly or biweekly. Offer to coordinate the scheduling.

What if my boss keeps rescheduling or cancelling our meetings?

If your manager frequently postpones or cancels your one-on-one’s, don’t take it personally. Their schedule is likely very overloaded. Politely emphasize how much you value the meetings for guidance and feedback. Offer to accommodate their schedule in any way you can.

How do I speak up more during meetings with my boss?

If you tend to be reserved in one-on-one’s, resist the urge to just nod along. Come armed with questions and don’t be afraid of moments of silence as you collect your thoughts. Show you’re listening by summarizing key points and asking thoughtful follow-up questions.

What should I do if our meetings start going off-topic?

Gently guide your manager back on track by referencing your agenda and priorities for the meeting. You can say something like, “I want to be sure we have enough time left to discuss my performance goals. Can we spend the next ten minutes on that before wrapping up?”

What if I need to request an urgent, unscheduled meeting?

If you need your boss’s input immediately, briefly explain the time-sensitive issue in your request and note it is urgent. Offer to provide more background ahead of the meeting and be as flexible as possible with timing.

Key Takeaways

• One-on-one meetings with your manager provide opportunities to strengthen your relationship, seek feedback, and discuss growth.
• Time your request carefully by considering your manager’s availability and your reasons for wanting to meet.
• Craft a clear, polite email request that includes your objective, proposed times, an