Fiducia TogetherOne-to-ones and appraisals
Regular conversations about work. Cheap, and the thing most often skipped.
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.
What it means
A one-to-one is a short regular conversation between a manager and a team member. An appraisal is a periodic formal review of performance.
Why it matters
Regular short conversations prevent almost every problem an annual appraisal discovers too late, and they are the main mechanism for retention.
What it looks like in practice
Keep them short, regular and in the diary. Let the employee set most of the agenda. Record actions.\n\nAn appraisal should contain no surprises — anything raised there for the first time should have been raised months earlier.
What to watch out for
Cancelling them when busy, which signals exactly what it appears to signal. And appraisals tied to pay, which turns an honest conversation into a negotiation.
Where to get proper advice
ACAS on performance management, free.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.