• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

1

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Office Culture

You Should Never Be Too Busy to Engage With Your Employees

By
YEC
YEC
and
AllBusiness.com
AllBusiness.com
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
YEC
YEC
and
AllBusiness.com
AllBusiness.com
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 7, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
Young adults are playing foosball at work
Coworkers are relaxing by playing foosball together in their startup officePhotograph by Eva Katalin Kondoros — Getty Images

This piece originally appeared on AllBusiness.com.

It wasn’t too long ago when you and your entire team could fit in the same room. Now, you can’t remember the last time you had a conversation with some of your employees. As your company grows, you may be wondering how to make the most out of the limited interaction you have with your team.

That’s why we asked 13 experienced entrepreneurs from Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) the following question:

Q: How can I make sure to get enough one–on–one time with my employees while my company (and workload) rapidly grows?

1. Invite Employees to Daily Walks

I invite my employees to go on two relaxing, 15-minute walks around the neighborhood every day. This allows me to stay healthy while getting to know my employees better. It’s been one of the best things I’ve done to really get to know people on a personal level. After a month of doing this, you’ll have done 40 walks with 40 different employees–after a year, that’s 500+ people. —John Rampton, Due

2. Create Structure

We aim to have a non-hierarchical culture—the best ideas can come from anywhere. But I also know that every employee needs a sounding board and support. As we’ve grown, I can’t effectively provide that for everyone, so I’ve opted to create some structure so that each employee gets a weekly 1:1 with their manager. —Bhavin Parikh, Magoosh Inc.

3. Say Good Morning

Aim to walk around the office and greet your teams at the start of the day. As the company grows, face time with each employee will decrease, but a simple gesture in the morning can show that you’re still engaged and interested in all members of the company. —Chuck Cohn, Varsity Tutors

For more on company culture, watch this Fortune video:

4. Schedule Regular Check-Ins

At Amplify Relations, we found that quarterly evaluations were daunting for employees and management. Instead, we instituted revolving check-in meetings where company owners meet one–on–one with a different staff person every week. It creates a positive and ongoing conversation to talk about what’s going well for the employee and the company, as well as things that can be improved. —Megan Bedera, Amplify Relations

5. Rotate Leadership on Different Projects

I’m able to get more one–on–one time with employees that I put into leadership roles; with our many different projects, everyone gets to take the lead on something once every few months. This keeps me close to my employees and their goals. —Matt Doyle, Excel Builders

6. Seek Out the ‘Connectors’ in Your Organization

Ask around to figure out who the “go-to” people are in your organization—the people who everyone else goes to when they have a bad day at work. Spending time with them puts you close to the action and lets you know to whom you should then go spend extra time with. This is especially important when you get north of 15 to 20 people. —Zachary Johnson, Syndio

7. Build a Culture of Mentorship

We started 1:1s as part of our career management at Kvantum from the first year. Initially, as a founder, you do most of the 1:1s, but it’s humanly impossible to connect with everyone for an hour-long discussion multiple times a year when you’re scaling. Now, I coach my team leads about how to be a mentor and give them a consistent framework to formally conduct 1:1s throughout the year. —Shilpi Sharma, Kvantum Inc.

8. Be Accessible

I make myself accessible to all of my employees. If they need one–on–one time, I’m more than happy to schedule lunch or dinner with them to talk outside the office about anything that’s on their mind. I try tomake it very clear that they’re my priority. —Ginger Jones, Jones Therapy Services

9. Prioritize It Like a Client Meeting

Schedule 1:1s in your calendar, and don’t let them get moved or preempted. Make them informal so it’s easy to talk to employees about their work and personal life. If possible, go out for coffee or a drink. And, be present—leave your phone in your pocket or you’ll never give the attention your employees deserve. —Dan Golden, Be Found Online

10. Get in the Middle of the Action

I try to sit among my employees in the office as much as possible to keep connected with them. I make myself as accessible as possible, so I’m in the action and up-to-date with what the whole staff is up to. —Jayna Cooke, EVENTup

11. Walk Around the Office

It’s good to make routine trips around the office to check in on people. Not everybody may require one–on–one time, but it’s worth walking around the office to check on everyone at least weekly. Spend about an hour on Mondays walking around, catching up with as many people as you can while letting your employees know you are available if they needone–on–one time. The people that want it will tell you. —Andy Karuza, FenSens

12. Host Happy Hours at the Office

The best way to connect and bond with your team is through informal get-togethers. While it may be impractical to host your entire team at a baseball or football game, hosting a happy hour at your office at least once per month is economical and will allow you to talk one–on–one withyour team. Keep it fun by including music, games, and free food. Work the room and get to know your team. —Kristopher Jones, LSEO.com

More from AllBusiness:
• 10 Tasks to Delegate to Employees
• 10 Simple Steps to Inspire and Engage Your Employees to Do Their Best for You
• 14 Creative Ways to Stay Motivated

13. Remember That Less Is More

Less is more, but here’s the twist: spend less time with your employees, and do it more often. Employees don’t need to spend massive amounts of time with you monologuing—that’s just frustrating. They need more meetings that are short and tactical. Use tools like 15Five to keep meetings less about reporting and more about solving problems. This will also help your employees to achieve goals and boost morale. —Eran Eyal, Springleap

About the Authors
By YEC
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By AllBusiness.com
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

How Grab’s CTO sees the superapp’s push into physical AI and automated driving—and why he uses his competitors’ robots in the office
AITransportation
How Grab’s CTO sees the superapp’s push into physical AI and automated driving—and why he uses his competitors’ robots in the office
By Angelica AngMay 22, 2026
1 hour ago
Trump AI and crpto czar David Sacks sits next to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at a dinner table in the White House as Zuckerberg turns to Sacks and says something.
AIAmerican Politics
Tech billionaires convinced Trump to back off an AI executive order. But much of MAGA favors AI regulation
By Jeremy KahnMay 22, 2026
2 hours ago
James Daunt sits in a booksop, gesturing with both hands and smiling.
AIbooks
Barnes & Noble CEO clarifies the bookseller’s stance on AI-written books after refusing to ban them: ‘This is a straightforward rejection of AI books’
By Sasha RogelbergMay 22, 2026
3 hours ago
A photo taken during the Maroon Bells bicycle ride during Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2019 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo: Fortune)
InnovationBrainstorm Tech
Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2026 will be brilliant
By Andrew NuscaMay 22, 2026
4 hours ago
Beyond the diploma: Skills that actually get graduates hired
Future of WorkWorkplace Innovation Summit
Beyond the diploma: Skills that actually get graduates hired
By Ashley LutzMay 22, 2026
5 hours ago
satya nadella
AITech
Microsoft reports are exposing AI’s real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees
By Jake AngeloMay 22, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
1 day ago
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
Success
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
By Preston ForeMay 20, 2026
2 days ago
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
3 days ago
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can't explain why they pay what they pay
Workplace Culture
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can't explain why they pay what they pay
By Sydney LakeMay 20, 2026
2 days ago
McKinsey partner says up to 50% of work hours could be transformed within the next 5 years
AI
McKinsey partner says up to 50% of work hours could be transformed within the next 5 years
By Emma BurleighMay 21, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of May 21, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 21, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 21, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.