One-on-one Feedback Spurs Performance Excellence

Cathie Leimbach • September 17, 2024

Quality one-on-one feedback plays a crucial role in boosting employee engagement and highlighting career growth opportunities within an organization.


Regular, personalized interactions between managers and employees foster open communication and trust. When managers praise specific incidences of good performance, the employee knows the manager is paying attention to them and values their work.


Employees that receive adequate recognition are four time likelier to be engaged, and in turn are more productive.

One-on-ones also provide a setting for employees to share constructive feedback tailored to the employees’ strengths and areas for improvement, making them feel valued and supported.


As managers provide clear guidance and set achievable goals, employees gain a better understanding of their roles and the steps needed for career advancement. Such feedback sessions also enable managers to recognize employees' aspirations and align their growth paths with organizational goals. When managers take time for these conversations, employees are 5 times likelier to see the potential for a quality future within the company.



Ultimately, these one-on-one sessions create a positive work environment, reduce turnover, and enhance overall productivity by ensuring that employees feel heard, appreciated, and guided in their professional journeys.

Psychological Safety Isn’t About Smooth Sailing — It’s About Real Growth

By Cathie Leimbach • December 2, 2025
When people hear “psychological safety,” they often imagine a workplace where everything feels easy and conflict-free. But that’s not what true psychological safety is — and it’s not what high-performing teams need. As leadership expert R. Michael Anderson points out, work and life include tough days, unexpected problems, and moments that stretch us. A psychologically safe workplace doesn’t remove those realities. Instead, it gives people the confidence and support to face them. A safe workplace is one where employees can struggle without fear of embarrassment… try new skills without being put down… ask questions, make mistakes, and keep moving forward. It’s a place where people know their leader is behind them — not by preventing discomfort, but by helping them learn through it. Psychological safety isn’t about coddling or creating a predictable bubble. Real safety looks like this: · You may hear difficult feedback, but it helps you grow. · You are encouraged to take risks, and supported when you slip. · You are stretched beyond your comfort zone, and guided along the way. When leaders create this balance — support plus stretch — people build resilience, confidence, and higher performance. To explore more of these ideas, visit R. Michael Anderson's website .

Thanksgiving: Beyond the Turkey and Thank-You Notes

By Cathie Leimbach • November 25, 2025
As leaders, we know Thanksgiving week is prime time for employee appreciation. But here's the thing—a generic "thanks everyone" email hits differently for different people. Dr. Paul White's research on the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace offers a smarter approach. Just like people receive love differently, your team members feel valued in distinct ways: through words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, tangible gifts, or physical touch (think handshakes and high-fives in professional settings). That all-star on your team? She might light up from a handwritten note praising her specific contributions. Your behind-the-scenes problem-solver might feel more appreciated if you help him out by clearing his schedule for an afternoon so he can tackle his backlog. This Thanksgiving, skip the one-size-fits-all approach. Take ten minutes to consider how each team member prefers to be recognized. It's not about grand gestures—it's about matching your gratitude to what actually resonates with each individual. When appreciation lands in someone's preferred language, it doesn't just feel nice. It builds loyalty, boosts morale, and reminds people why they show up every day. That's something worth being thankful for. Curious about what languages are preferred? Click here to learn more!