Blog
Writing on one-on-ones, cadence and the craft of managing.
Practical pieces for people who hold one-on-ones every week — what to ask, how often to meet, and how to tell whether management is actually working.
The 1:1 questions that actually get an honest answer
Most one-on-one question lists are interview scripts. Here are the seven questions that reliably surface a real problem — and the four that never do.
How often should you hold one-on-ones?
Weekly, biweekly or monthly is not a matter of taste. It depends on tenure, autonomy and how fast the work changes. A simple rule for each person on your team.
Skip-level visibility without turning into a surveillance company
Executives need to know whether conversations are happening. There is a version of that which destroys trust, and a version that builds it. The difference is what you measure.
Why one-on-ones get cancelled — and the fix that survives a busy quarter
A 1:1 pushed twice is a 1:1 that has quietly stopped. What actually keeps the habit alive when the quarter goes sideways.
Action items that do not disappear between meetings
Commitments made in a 1:1 fail for one structural reason: they live in the wrong place. Where they should live instead.
Can you measure management quality without an engagement survey?
Annual surveys tell you how people felt three months ago. Cadence and follow-through tell you what is happening this week.
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Reading about 1:1s is not the same as holding them.
Four seats free with unlimited one-on-ones. Put one of these ideas to work this week.