I'm trying to reconcile two pieces of MT advice.
"Never Step Out of the Middle" says that if my boss wants to meet individually with my direct, I should try to either convey the meeting myself, or be part of the meeting.
"Don't Do Skip-Level One-on-Ones" says that skip-level meetings are good, but not individually.
Suppose my boss does want to do individual skip-level meetings. If my boss wants to meet individually with my direct for a periodic skip-level meeting, I must "step out of the middle," right? Otherwise it would look like I'm trying to block my boss from having a skip-level meeting, which would seem odd and defensive.
If your boss wants to do skip
If your boss wants to do skip level one on ones, it's important to communicate your concerns about this approach. You can explain that it might undermine the relationship you're trying to build with your own direct reports. Instead, suggest alternatives such as having regular meetings with your boss where you can provide updates about your team's progress and any issues they're facing. You can also propose the idea of skip level meetings, where your boss can interact with your team in a group setting, rather than one-on-one.
Skip Level Meeting: https://manager-tools.com/2006/04/skip-levels