Now, Together

The core idea is simple: during a regular 1:1, a manager can pull an engineer aside and finish a small, lingering task together. This "Now, Together" moment turns a vague blocker into concrete action, giving the engineer immediate accountability and the manager a chance to see what's really holding the work up. It works because the task is short, time-sensitive, and has already been dragging.

You decide to use the tool when a task that should be done quickly remains unfinished despite reminders. Typical signs are an onboarding ticket that never materialized, a meeting invite that never left the calendar, or a server that still shows "in progress". If the answer is yes to those prompts, the manager should schedule a brief, focused segment in the next 1:1 to address it.

The execution is straightforward: the manager nudges the engineer, asks what's missing, and then says "let's do it now". If the engineer pushes back, the manager can stay present as a body double, providing gentle prompts until the blocker surfaces-whether it's a missing dependency, unclear ownership, or simple uncertainty. Once the blocker is identified, the manager can either resolve it on the spot or create a clear path forward.

Beyond clearing the task, the practice builds accountability, shows compassionate support, and uncovers deeper issues like chronic overload or hidden dependencies. Repeated use signals that something larger may be amiss, prompting the manager to look for patterns in workload, motivation, or process bottlenecks. In short, "Now, Together" is a low-friction tool to unblock work, reinforce expectations, and surface insights that improve team performance.