2026-06-27
Zero prep for 1-on-1s: turn report logs into discussion points
Why 1-on-1s end as small talk and prep is heavy — and how to fix it. Turn accumulated daily reports into the agenda for the meeting.
Two reasons 1-on-1s fail
One is lack of prep, so it becomes small talk; the other is ad-hoc angles that shift every time. Both come from a shortage of material — quality wobbles when you rely on memory and impressions.
The material is already in the reports
Lay out a week of P/D/C/A and you see patterns of stumbling, points of growth, and issues left unaddressed. Use these as the agenda and prep is just 'lay out the material.'
Cross-check against the coaching policy
Decide 'how you want them to grow this term' in advance and read the weekly log through that lens; the points to praise and the points to work on emerge naturally. Without a policy, evaluation becomes ad-hoc.
Put the cheat sheet on one page
Summarize strengths, points to work on together, and example questions on one page and you won't hesitate in the meeting. Short prep, deep dialogue — that's a 1-on-1 you can sustain.
A tool for a culture of improvement and fair evaluation that implements these ideas.