One-on-Ones That Actually Work: A Playbook for New Leaders (and everyone else)

Overview One-on-ones are a powerful tool for technical leaders to build trust, provide clarity, and maintain momentum within engineering teams. This guide explains how to run effective one-on-ones, avoid common pitfalls, and structure conversations for maximum impact.

Key Takeaways

• Prepare a simple agenda focused on growth and obstacles.
• Ask open-ended questions to uncover hidden issues.
• Follow up with clear action items and track progress over time.

Who Would Benefit

• New engineering managers
• Senior technical leaders
• Team leads and project managers

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Growth mindset framework
• Feedback loop model