1on1

1on1, short for one-on-one, refers to an interaction or arrangement involving exactly two participants. The term is widely used across contexts such as business, education, coaching, sports, and gaming, and may appear as "1-on-1" or "one-on-one."

In business, a one-on-one meeting is a regular, private discussion between a manager and a direct report or between peers. Goals typically include feedback, goal setting, performance discussion, coaching, or project alignment. Characteristics include a scheduled time, confidentiality, and an agenda prioritized by the participants. Benefits include focused attention, personalized feedback, faster decision-making, and trust-building. Potential challenges include time constraints, dependency on the relationship, and power dynamics.

In education and coaching, 1on1 refers to individualized instruction or coaching sessions. A tutor or coach works with a single student to address learning gaps, develop skills, or prepare for assessments. In sports and gaming, 1on1 denotes a direct match between two players. In competitive environments, 1on1 formats emphasize equal opportunity to display skills and strategies; in online games, they are common modes for practice and ranking.

Best practices include setting clear objectives, preparing an agenda, keeping notes, following up with documented actions, and ensuring privacy and respectful communication. The format is flexible and can be adapted to remote or in-person settings.