"Generally, people who think one-on-one meetings are a bad idea have been victims of poorly designed one-on-one meetings. The key to a good one-on-one meeting is the understanding that it is the employee’s meeting rather than the manager’s meeting." Ben Horowitz
Ben Horowitz has written about why and how he does one-on-one meetings (often called 'one-on-ones') with people who report directly to him. I have described these meetings as "the core line management practice". Don't believe me and Ben, try them for yourself.
...Geoff