Questions for our first 1:1 - Lara Hogan

Lara Hogan's template for first 1:1s has become the industry standard for new manager-report relationships. Based on her experience scaling engineering teams at Etsy and Kickstarter, this approach prioritizes understanding individual needs and motivations.

The template includes essential questions like: What makes you grumpy? How will I know when you're in a bad mood? What are your career goals? How do you prefer to receive feedback? What's your favorite way to be appreciated?

These questions serve multiple purposes: they establish psychological safety by showing genuine interest, uncover communication preferences before conflicts arise, identify growth opportunities early, and create a foundation for trust.

The genius of this approach is that it flips the traditional power dynamic - instead of the manager setting all expectations, it's a collaborative discovery process. This sets the tone for a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding.

Many successful engineering leaders credit this template with helping them avoid common management pitfalls and build high-performing, trusting teams from day one.