With ever greater focus on the issues of expansive class sizes, electronic learning management systems, big data and digital tools in the classroom, we can lose focus on one of most effective tools in teaching: the 1-on-1 encounter. As instructors, we encourage our students to seek out opportunities to interact with their faculty 1-on-1, whether meeting with us during office hours, engaging in an honors project or performing research in the field. When used to their full potential, such interactions can set a student on a trajectory for personal and professional success. When handled poorly or with little care, these interactions can set a student on a wrong track or foster self-doubt and fear. Yet, given the great potential of these encounters for good or ill, we may not give 1-on-1 interactions the same careful consideration as class room settings with respect to developing learning objectives and providing individual feedback. Such interactions also provide essential opportunities to gauge the intellectual and emotional well being of our students, with some of whom we can expect to develop life-long professional partnerships.