Leadership practice
Your people don't know what they want yet
Most people can't articulate their growth goals on the spot. The 1:1 is where a manager can surface those goals through exposure and the right nudge.
Blog
Sharp writing for managers who want better 1:1s without the HR sprawl.
Short reports, management frameworks, and practical guidance built around the real manager-report conversation.
FeaturedIndustry perspective
The gap between what managers think about 1:1s and what their reports actually experience
6 min read
94% of managers believe they are holding effective 1:1s. Only 10% of their direct reports agree. This post explores both sides of that gap and what it costs both people.
Series
5 frameworks every new manager should know
A short five-part series on the models that help new managers run cleaner 1:1s, give better feedback, and create more ownership.
Framework 1: Situational Leadership for new managers
A practical guide to Situational Leadership for managers who know one style never fits every person.
Framework 2: The GROW coaching model for better 1:1s
Use Goal, Reality, Options, and Will to turn vague 1:1s into coaching conversations with actual movement.
Framework 3: SBI feedback that keeps trust intact
Situation, Behavior, Impact is one of the cleanest ways to give feedback without losing trust or sliding into vagueness.
Framework 4: RACI for clearer delegation
RACI helps managers stop vague delegation before it turns into duplicate work, stalled decisions, and ownership fog.
Framework 5: The SCARF model for better 1:1s
Use the SCARF model to understand how status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, and fairness shape how people respond in 1:1s.
More posts
Templates, buyer guides, and sharper thinking for managers
Browse the rest of the writing on cleaner 1:1s, lighter-weight tooling, and manager-first workflow decisions.
Industry perspective
The 1:1 conversations that still matter when the company is in survival mode
When restructures, attrition, and constant change drain motivation, the right 1:1 conversations can restore clarity, agency, and a sense that the work still means something.
Leadership practice
Reactions for 1:1s: because connection matters too
A quick emoji reaction on a shared agenda item can do more for the relationship than a follow-up message. Small signals in the 1:1 matter more than most managers realize.
Templates and guides
Remote 1:1s: the mindset, process, and tools that make the difference
Running strong 1:1s with remote team members takes more than a video call. Here is what the mindset, process, and tooling actually need to look like.
Team communication
How to raise a difficult situation with your manager gracefully
A practical guide for team members who need to surface a hard situation without sounding reckless, dramatic, or unclear.
Industry perspective
Cutting software spend without weakening management
A practical case for reducing software overhead without stripping managers of the tools they need to run strong 1:1s.
Templates and guides
1:1 meeting agenda template for managers who want better conversations
A practical 1:1 meeting agenda template for managers who want a steadier conversation, better listening, and cleaner follow-through.
Buyer guides
What is the best 1:1 tool for managers?
A practical guide to choosing a 1:1 tool for managers who want substance, not extra process.
Leadership practice
A project champion program for growing future leaders
A practical way to help people grow by giving them short, supported chances to lead communication, discovery, decisions, and delivery on bite-size projects.
Competitor analysis
Why Duogenda is built for the 1:1, not the org chart
A sharper look at the 1:1 software market and why manager-report conversations need less HR sprawl and less seat-count thinking.