Skip-level meetings

Extracted Attributes

• Type

  Management practice

• Category

  Communication strategy

• Application

  Improving transparency, gathering diverse perspectives, addressing issues like turnover or low productivity, and demonstrating concern for employee growth

• Primary Purpose

  To foster open communication and build trust across organizational levels

• Manager Best Practice

  Establish clear objectives, listen actively (aim for 80/20 listen-to-talk ratio), share intent with direct reports, clarify what is not being sought (e.g., decision-making), and follow up on emerging themes

• Recommended Frequency

  At least once annually; can be more frequent or rotational based on manager's discretion

• Employee Best Practice

  Prepare to share perspectives, inquire about the meeting's purpose and frequency, and demonstrate willingness for open and transparent communication

• Key Benefit for Employees

  Opportunity to share perspectives, connect with higher management, and gain alignment on organizational vision

• Key Benefit for Senior Leaders

  Gain direct insights into organizational dynamics, employee sentiment, and operational challenges

Founder mode

Founder mode is a term used and popularized by Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham in a September 2024 essay in response to a talk delivered by Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky. It describes a specific kind of leadership in which a founder has a direct, hands-on approach to their company rather than breaking up and delegating responsibility through a top-down structure. Often cited examples of leaders embodying founder mode include Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang. Immediately after its online publication, Graham's essay led to widespread debate and discourse about the different methodologies regarding how to run a company, the pros and cons of micromanagement, and the nature of founder personalities versus that of non-founders, among other relevant concerns. It also spurred many memes, jokes, and stereotypes about the culture surrounding Silicon Valley and big tech.

Web Search Results

• Skip-Level Meeting: 2025 Questions & Tips Guide - Reclaim.ai

  ## What is a skip-level meeting? A skip-level meeting is a one-on-one meeting between an employee and their manager's manager, without the middle manager in attendance. For example, a Marketing Coordinator (who usually reports to the Marketing Manager) may have a skip-level meeting with the Director of Marketing. These meetings allow you to connect directly with senior leaders that you may not regularly interact with in your day-to-day work, bypassing the traditional chain of command. [...] Skip-level meetings are valuable methods for improving communication and fostering a sense of collaboration within an organization. Employees want to work in a transparent company and have a strong understanding of its goals, challenges, and opportunities – and senior leaders gain incredible insights by connecting with the people who are getting the hard work done every day. [...] ## How to conduct skip-level meetings (as a senior manager) If you’re a senior manager, skip-level meetings are an amazing tactic to encourage open communication, build rapport, and gain insights into the organization's dynamics. Here are key strategies to conduct skip-level meetings effectively: ### 1. Establish clear objectives

• How to Use Skip-Level Meetings Effectively - The Management Center

  Skip-level meetings are one-on-one meetings that managers hold with staff other than the people they manage directly. In most small- or mid-sized organizations, these are typically meetings with the direct report(s) of the people that you manage. In large hierarchical organizations, there might be multiple layers between you and the person you’re meeting with. (From now on, we’re going to refer to the manager that you manage as “the manager” and the person they manage as “the staff person.”) [...] Assuming that your organization has a traditional, hierarchical structure, if you manage managers, you probably have a fair amount of positional power. You may also have other types of power and privilege relative to the staff person. Skip-level meetings are a way to leverage the power you have to build trust, invite a diversity of perspectives, and gather information that helps you be more strategic and accountable in your decision-making. [...] Meeting with your boss’s boss can feel like being called into the principal’s office. Alleviate any anxiety and dispel assumptions by sharing the purpose of the meeting (if it’s your first skip-level with this person, share why you do skip-level meetings, in general). Be clear about what you’re _not_ looking to get out of it (such as decision-making or problem-solving). Share how you will use the information gathered in the meeting (including who else, if anyone, you’ll share it with).

• What is a Skip-Level Meeting? Meaning, Benefits, and Best Practices

  Continue reading this article to explore skip-level meetings’ purposes, benefits, and best practices to maximize their impact! ## What is a skip-level meeting? A skip-level meeting is a corporate interaction between a manager and an employee who is at least two levels below them in the organizational hierarchy. You see, in large corporations, nearly half of the employees rarely meet with managers—only 35.3 of the staff have this one-on-one meeting each month or less. [...] In today’s dynamic corporate landscape, fostering effective communication across organizational tiers is paramount. Skip-level meetings have emerged as a powerful strategy to bridge the gap between executives, managers, and employees. Holding these encounters helps senior management tap into a wealth of insights while demonstrating genuine concern for employee growth. That helps pave the way for a more connected and engaged workforce. [...] ### Tips for employees For employees, skip-level meetings are a chance to share their perspectives and connect with higher management. Here’s how to make the most of these valuable opportunities:

• Engaging With Our Teams Through Skip-Level Meetings | IT at Yale

  3. Skip-levels meeting are an opportunity for the individual to share what’s on their mind. Aim for an 80/20 listen-to-talk ratio. Listen intently and let the individual drive the conversation to the key topics they want to discuss with you. 4. Follow-up actions - consider any themes that emerge from your skip level meetings, check in with your direct reports to share and discuss the themes (remember confidentiality) and any subsequent next steps. [...] One of the benefits of conducting skip-level meetings is to build trust within teams. Skip levels also help the manager understand how folks on the team are really feeling about the work, the culture, and the team around them. What could be better? What needs to be resolved? And for the employee - it’s an opportunity for them to get aligned and centered around the vision — and ask valuable questions that help them with their own work. [...] 1. Skip-level meetings should be conducted at least once annually. Conducting skip-levels on a more frequent basis is at the manager’s discretion. 2. Managers conducting skip-levels should share their intent with their direct reports for the skip level meetings. Get buy in. A sample communication to prepare your direct report managers that skip level meetings will be occurring can be:

• Preparing for a Skip-Level Meeting - SHRM

  Skip-level meetings typically occur in either of the scenarios outlined above—casual touch-base meetings where senior leaders get to hear directly from operational, front-line employees, or a recommended interventional exercise to get feedback from staff members within problematic units, typically regarding turnover, lack of productivity or general employee dissatisfaction. [...] Start by asking your superior if skip-level meetings happen at your organization and, if so, how often. "Skip-level meetings are a bit philosophical," Baez said, "and point to the leader's communication style and willingness to get to know operational employees on a more personal level. Just bringing up the issue with your manager demonstrates your willingness to engage in open and transparent communication with your boss and your team, which is a healthy move for you career-wise and a smart [...] ​Organizational leaders sometimes hold skip-level meetings in order to insert themselves into potentially problematic departments or teams that may wrestle with chronic performance problems, stability challenges or ongoing misconduct issues. Likewise, some senior executives prefer to hold these meetings on a regular, rotational basis just to check in with the troops and see how everyone is feeling about the nature of their work, leadership direction and the organization as a whole.