How do I book a 1:1?
A 1:1 is a session booked and held between a manager and their direct report. After a new user has had their first 1:1, both a manager or team member can book a 1:1 and add items to the agenda. (The first 1:1 can only be booked by the Manager)
1:1s in OpenBlend can be booked or edited on desktop and mobile.
For talents, if you do not have a 1:1 booked, the main call to action on your homepage will be ‘Book a 1:1’ with your manager. When you select this option, a pop-up will appear on the right-hand side that will support you through the booking process.
For managers, under ‘My Direct Reports’ at the top of the page, looking to the right shows the ‘Manage your 1:1s’ option.
Here, you can ‘Book a 1:1’ with a talent if there isn’t one booked or ‘Edit Booking’ for an existing 1:1.
Booking recurring or one-off 1:1s
When booking a 1:1, you can decide to book in a recurring 1:1 (default setting) or a one-off. The options available to you are set by your company admin. The options are:
- Fortnightly: This is a session that will be booked in every 2 weeks on a day set by you
- Monthly: OpenBlend recommends monthly 1:1s at a minimum but your admin may have set a shorter/longer recommended frequency. This option will book a session that will occur once a month on a date/time set by you
- Custom Frequency: Here, you can decide to create a recurring 1:1 at a frequency you set, e.g., every 3 weeks on a Monday
- One-off: This option allows you to book a one-off 1:1 session
It is not possible to book recurring and one-off 1:1s at the same time, multiple bookings can be made one after another.
Once you have selected the frequency of the session, you can then set the details. Once saved by clicking, ‘Complete Booking’, the single or recurring session will be booked into the calendars of both the manager and talent.
When you book a session in OpenBlend, it will be added directly to your calendar. If you book your 1:1 from your calendar, please remember to copy in calendar@openblend.com. We can then remind you of your upcoming session and prompt you to create your agenda.
Selecting a specific focus of a 1:1 is not necessary at the time of booking the session. The focus of a 1:1 session is set when an agenda is created.
Editing an existing 1:1 booking
It is possible to edit a 1:1 once a booking is in place.
All 1:1s are listed in order under the ‘Manage your 1:1s’ on the homepage. Selecting a 1:1 here will display the details of that 1:1 in the booking panel. Details can be updated and saved here.
1:1 notifications and reminders
When a 1:1 is booked, both you and your manager will be informed that a session has been booked via email or your instant messaging application. If an agenda is already in place, the email will contain the details. There is more about the agenda later in this document.
Both you and your manager will be notified 24 hours before a 1:1 is due to take place. This reminder encourages both parties to ensure that the agenda is up to date and that any updates within OpenBlend are made in time.
In the case that no session is booked, the homepage will show ‘No 1:1 booked’. We will remind you that you do not have a 1:1 booked in, by your company’s recommended frequency settings.
If you miss a 1:1, we’ll notify you by email and your preferred communications platform and provide you with a new link to rebook.