Help leaders prepare effective 1:1 meetings with their direct reports. Use this skill when asked to: prepare a 1:1 agenda, generate discussion topics, create talking points for a specific person or situation, follow up on previous 1:1s, prepare for difficult 1:1 conversations, or structure career development discussions. The skill provides templates, question banks, and frameworks for different 1:1 types (regular check-ins, career conversations, performance concerns, etc.).
View on GitHubskills/1on1-prep/SKILL.md
January 21, 2026
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npx add-skill https://github.com/jkbennemann/leadership-skills/blob/main/skills/1on1-prep/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill 1on1-prepInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/1on1-prep/# 1:1 Preparation Skill A framework for preparing and running effective 1:1 meetings that build trust, support growth, and surface issues early. ## Why 1:1s Matter 1:1s are the most important meeting a manager has. They are: - **Their meeting, not yours** — The direct report sets the agenda - **About them, not status** — Save project updates for standups - **Relationship-building time** — Trust compounds over time - **Early warning system** — Problems surface here first ## 1:1 Principles ### 1. Consistency Over Intensity - Weekly or biweekly, same time, never cancel - 30 minutes minimum, 45-60 ideal - Rescheduling is okay; canceling erodes trust ### 2. They Own the Agenda - Ask them to bring topics - Your items come second - If they have nothing, dig deeper (that's a signal) ### 3. Listen More Than Talk - Aim for 70/30 ratio (them/you) - Ask follow-up questions - Silence is okay—let them think ### 4. Document and Follow Through - Take notes (or have them take notes) - Track action items - Start next 1:1 with previous action items --- ## 1:1 Types & Templates ### Type 1: Regular Check-in (Weekly/Biweekly) **Purpose:** Maintain connection, surface small issues before they grow **Template:** ``` ## 1:1 with [Name] — [Date] ### Their Topics (5-15 min) - [Let them lead] ### How are you doing? (5 min) - Energy level / workload - Blockers or frustrations - Anything I should know? ### Work Check-in (5-10 min) - What's going well? - What's challenging? - Do you have what you need? ### Growth/Development (5 min) - Any learning opportunities this week? - Skills you want to develop? ### My Topics (5 min) - [Your items — keep brief] ### Action Items - [ ] ... ``` --- ### Type 2: Career Conversation (Monthly/Quarterly) **Purpose:** Discuss long-term growth, aspirations, development **Template:** ``` ## Career Conversation with [Name] — [Date] ### Reflection - What's energized you most in the last quarter? - What's drained you? - What accomplishment are you