Resources for Skip Level Meetings

As part of our continued efforts to promote open communication and collaboration, William Paterson University introduces “skip level meetings” as a best practice for our leaders/supervisors. Skip-level meetings give senior leaders the opportunity to hear directly from employees, without their immediate supervisor present. They are valuable tools for gaining unfiltered insights, fostering trust, and driving organizational improvements. They also create open lines of communication which further support utilization of the Open the Front Door framework.

 Skip level meetings are important because they: 

  • Provide leaders with direct insight into workplace culture, employee engagement, and operational challenges.
  • Help bridge communication gaps that may exist between leadership tiers.
  • Increase employee morale by demonstrating that senior leadership values their perspectives.
  • Encourage innovation by allowing employees to share new ideas and feedback directly with decision-makers.
  • Support leadership development by identifying emerging leaders and training opportunities.
  • Provide an opportunity for participants to share long-term career goals and identify specific skills or experiences they would like to gain to grow in their role or prepare for future career opportunities?

The purpose of these informal conversations is to listen, learn, and gather feedback about employee experiences, challenges, and ideas for improvement and professional growth. In addition to strengthening culture, skip-level meetings also help leaders better understand employees’ aspirations for career development. These discussions allow participants to express where they see themselves in the future, explore opportunities for growth within the university, and highlight training or mentorship support that could help them advance. In this way, skip-level meetings not only improve organizational effectiveness but also serve as a valuable tool for shaping career pathways and retaining top talent.

 When preparing for skip-level meetings, supervisors should:

  • Begin by defining clear objectives and communicating the purpose and process to employees in advance.
  • During the interview, set an open and welcoming tone, follow a structured yet flexible format using guiding questions, and take notes while remaining engaged with participants.
  • After the interview, senior supervisors should summarize key takeaways, share anonymized themes with leadership, and use feedback to develop action plans. Communicating next steps back to participants helps reinforce accountability and transparency while building trust across the organization.

Additional Resources: