You know that sinking feeling when you find out your boss grabbed coffee with one of your team members and you had no idea it was happening?

Yeah. Not great.

Or maybe you've been on the other side: invited to meet with your skip-level leader and wondering, "Wait... what am I supposed to talk about?"

Skip-level meetings are one of those leadership practices that can be incredibly powerful or spectacularly messy. And honestly? Most organizations and leaders are underestimating the cost and downside of ineffective skip-level meetings.

When done right, skip levels give senior leaders unfiltered insight into what's actually happening on the ground. They help spot patterns early, make leadership feel accessible, and surface hidden talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.

But when done poorly? They destroy trust, create political chaos, and teach people that the fastest way to get something done is to go around their manager.

So in this week's episode of The Managed Track Podcast, we're breaking down everything you need to know about skip-level meetings:

Why they exist (and what problem they're actually solving)
The five biggest ways they go wrong (triangulation, anyone?)
Practical playbooks for all three roles: the senior leader running them, the manager whose team is involved, and the employee being invited

I also reached out to 14 HR leaders to get their take on best practices, and I'm sharing all of that consolidated wisdom with you.

Whether you're a senior leader trying to stay connected to the work, a manager navigating these conversations with your team, or an individual contributor preparing for your first skip-level meeting, this episode will help you make the most of them while avoiding the common pitfalls.

Listen now on Website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

— RESOURCES MENTIONED —

Schedule a Leadership Strategy Call with Ramona HERE.
Grab the free New Manager Toolkit mentioned in the episode: archova.org/freetoolkits
Learn how to turn your 1-on-1 meetings from time wasters, awkward moments, status updates, or non-existent into your most important and valuable meeting with your directs all week. Learn more at: http://archova.org/1on1-course
Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP

— OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE —

Episode 183 - Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings - Interview with Mamie Kanfer Stewart
Episode 42 - How to Run 1-on-1 Meetings Your Direct Reports Actually Enjoy

— WHAT’S NEXT? —

Learn more about our leadership development programs, coaching and workshops at archova.org.

Grab your copy of Ramona's best-selling book 'The Confident & Competent New Manager: How to Rapidly Rise to Success in Your First Leadership Role': amzn.to/3TuOdcP

Want to better understand your leadership style and patterns? Take our free quiz to discover your Manager Archetype and learn how to play to your strengths and uncover your blind spots: archova.org/quiz

Are you in your first manager role and don't want to mess it up? Watch our FREE Masterclass and discover the 4 shifts to become a leader people love to work for: archova.org/masterclass

Love the podcast and haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is go to ramonashaw.com/itunes and to our Spotify Page, and give your honest review. Thanks for your support of this show!

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @ramona.shaw.leadership or DM me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ramona-shaw

* Disclaimer: Shownotes may contain affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost to you.

Skip Level Meetings: Best Practices for Managers and Leaders (Ep. 297)