Why You Should Have 1:1s with Your Peers

Four reasons to meet regularly with your teammates

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

1:1 meetings aren’t just for managers — they can be some of the best conversations you have with coworkers. Whether you need quick advice or ongoing mentorship, these meetings can build trust that goes beyond the usual team dynamics.

Let’s dive into four compelling reasons to embrace peer 1:1s that benefit you and your team.

Boost your leadership skills

I started having 1:1s with my peers to improve my leadership skills. I know the best leaders are skilled listeners. So I’m always trying to enhance my listening skills.

Every one-on-one meeting is different because humans are dynamic. People don’t always feel the same way every day. And they don’t always want to talk about the same thing.

When you’re a people leader, you need to recognize these day-to-day differences. You have to navigate human emotions and adjust how you help and support your team.

Meeting privately with your peers is a valuable opportunity to hone your interpersonal skills. By approaching these conversations with intention, you’ll not only improve your communication but also build the foundation for stepping into an engineering leadership role.

Give and receive technical support

One of the best reasons for peer 1:1s is to help each other. Whether you want to ask a technical question or write some code together, you now have dedicated time for it. There’s no need to schedule a separate meeting or bother a teammate during their focus time.

Face-to-face time can be limited when working remotely, and sometimes you just need to talk with another software engineer. I recommend giving them a heads-up in advance. Let them know you need help with something—it sets the tone for the meeting and allows them to come prepared to support you.

Solve team problems

People weren’t made to repeat tasks without interruption. Eventually, your brain will send you a signal to take a break. And sometimes it’ll even tell you to pause and reflect on what you’re doing.

One-on-one peer meetings are the ideal setting for this. You can discuss what is and isn’t working. You can voice your frustrations and struggles. And you can brainstorm solutions to team problems.

Don’t underestimate the power of venting and expressing your thoughts and feelings. Working on high-impact projects in a team environment can be stressful. Sometimes, stepping back and taking a moment to reflect helps us gain perspective and identify areas for improvement.

Get to know each other

Perhaps the biggest benefit of meeting individually with your coworkers is to get to know them better. You can talk about life outside of work when it’s just the two of you. You can learn about people’s passions and hobbies. And hear about their families and pets.

This has a profound psychological impact on how you view your teammates. They’re not just someone who codes. They’re husbands and wives. They’re dog owners and cat lovers. They root for sports teams and spend their weekends outdoors. They might want to be a CTO or business owner someday.

When you take the time to get to know your colleagues personally, you start to care more about their success. You’ll want to help them achieve their goals and gain a deeper appreciation for their contributions to the team.

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I know how valuable time is for a software engineer. We often find ourselves in too many meetings, leaving little time to code. But making time for your peers is a win-win situation, where you can both grow while supporting each other.

If you want to elevate your people skills, there's no better way than meeting with your coworkers regularly. I recommend scheduling bi-weekly meetings with your fellow engineers — the return on investment can be exponential. Give it a try, and see how it strengthens your team's connections.