Have you ever noticed that employees seem disgruntled with their bosses? Though this can be a common theme, this does not have to be the case.

According to Gallup, two-thirds of employees are not engaged at work. That means most of the workforce is checked out in their companies. They are just going through the motions and are not reaching their potential. Remember that the potential of your organizations rests in your team.

One of the first steps you can take is to engage with your direct reports individually. I am not talking about a quick call or chat once a quarter, but regularly scheduled one-on-ones. These regular meetings provide great value for your team and also silence some negative ideas your team may have about you. Here are three ideas that one-on-ones will silence.

1. My boss doesn’t have time for me.
It is true that as a leader you may not have time for everyone in the organization, but you should have time for your direct reports. Once you set up one-on-one with your team, you send a message to each of them that you have time for them.

This can make a world of difference when your team members know that they have a set time to meet with you. You have to decide ahead of time how frequent the meetings are, but be consistent with the schedule.

2. My boss doesn’t care.
Setting aside time to meet with a team member to talk about what is going on in their world shows you care about them. Every person needs someone who uniquely cares for and encourages them; you can be that person.

During your time with them, part of your conversation should be about their development. When you invest in what matters to your team, they will be more willing to invest in what matters to you.

3. My boss is out of touch with what I am experiencing at work.
One on ones is a great way to “nip in the bud” challenging situations at work. Instead of dealing with a blowup that has been building for months or longer, your team member can let you know how they are feeling during your one-on-ones. This is so important for your company’s culture.

When I talk with employees of companies, a consistent theme is that their boss doesn’t understand their perspectives. They feel that their boss is out of touch with how they are feeling. This separation could possibly be solved by consistent meetings.

While meeting with your team won’t solve every issue you are facing, it will silence quite a few ideas. When your team feels that you have time for them, care for them, and understand how they are feeling, you will get more engaged employees.

Take out your calendar, and decide what times you could block off to have consistent meetings with your team.