How should I conduct one-on-one meetings with staff as a new leader?

Meet with every staff member individually, early in your tenure. For many people, this will be the only time they share their honest perspective with you — they won't speak up in groups, and they won't seek you out on their own.

The key discipline is listening without implying agreement. Active listening habits — nodding, smiling, taking notes — can unintentionally communicate that you endorse what someone is saying. When that person later sees you make a different decision, they feel betrayed: "But you agreed with me!" You didn't — but your body language said you did.

Instead, ask open questions, take careful notes, and respond with genuine curiosity rather than validation. "Tell me more about that" is safer than "That's a great point." Your job in these meetings is to gather information, not to make promises.