Provide Feedback: In my opinion, one of the most important parts of skip-level meetings is the exchange of feedback. Offer constructive feedback on areas in which the participant is doing well and any areas that need improvement. Discuss specific examples and offer suggestions for improvement. Use a strengths-based approach and highlight the participant's achievements and potential. Be supportive and encouraging and offer to provide resources or guidance where needed.
Skip-level meetings are often hard to get for most employees, but when they happen they are a great opportunity to connect with a senior leader beyond the day-to-day of what you do. Resist the urge to use this meeting to give an update on everything you are working on. Instead, do some pre-work into what that leader may be facing in the current moment and over the next few months. Is a board meeting coming up, is it a budget season? Did the team just go through a recent re-org or is the company having a customer retention issue? Knowing what may be on that leader's mind can help you position yourself (and your work) in a more engaging way. Are you doing an analysis that may highlight some recent customer service issues? Do you have any constructive insight into how teams might better work together with recent organizational changes? Making yourself and your work relevant to who you are meeting can facilitate a more impactful conversation and connection.
When preparing for a skip-level meeting, it’s important to focus on your accomplishments. Take the time to prepare a brief and impressive presentation of your professional journey. This will help you to make the most of this important opportunity. When meeting with your manager or other senior leaders, it’s important to be prepared and have a clear plan for how you want to present yourself and your career goals. By focusing on your accomplishments and presenting yourself in a professional manner, you’ll be sure to have a successful skip-level meeting.
Hi! A good tip that I can offer to ensure you're ready for your skip-level meeting is to research the participants beforehand. Skip-level meetings involve meeting with employees who are at least two levels below you in the organizational hierarchy, so it's really important to understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as any challenges they may be facing in their work. By doing your research, you can show that you are interested in their work and value their contributions. You can also ask more informed and relevant questions during the meeting, which can help to foster a more engaging and productive discussion. Hope that helps!
Skip-level meetings are ideal for keeping first-line managers accountable. Consequently, the juxtaposition between the line manager's account and that of their direct reports will be especially insightful, highlighting the manager's level of awareness. By meeting with the line manager first, you allow them to outline any concerns or reflections in advance of the skip-level meeting, setting the tone. If the manager's account runs true and is reflected by the feedback provided by their direct reports, this bodes well. However, if the manager gives a wildly different account of team performance and function compared to their direct reports, this suggests an intervention may be required. Therefore, I strongly recommend arranging a quick meeting with the team's line manager before the skip-level meeting, providing essential background from which to explore further.
Define the Purpose: The first step in preparing for a skip-level meeting is to define its purpose. Clarify what you want to achieve from the meeting, the topics you want to discuss, and the questions you want to ask. Having a clear understanding of the purpose of the meeting will help you stay focused and achieve your goals. Prepare an agenda for the meeting and share it with the participant beforehand, so they have a clear idea of what to expect and can prepare accordingly.