What is a 1:1 Meeting Guide?
A 1:1 meeting template is a structured agenda that engineering leaders use to run consistent, productive one-on-one conversations with their direct reports. Rather than improvising each session, the template ensures you cover career growth, blockers, and personal well-being — the three areas most correlated with engineer retention and satisfaction. This guide provides a ready-to-use format with pulse scoring, coaching questions, and a repeatable weekly structure.
Key Takeaways
- Use a pulse score (1–10) across 7 areas to spot trends before they become problems
- Start every 1:1 with a personal check-in — it builds trust and surfaces context
- End with forward-looking coaching questions about 3–6 month career goals
- Review progress on current tasks and identify blockers you can help remove
Pulse Check: Rate Each Area (1–10)
| Area | Score |
|---|---|
| Clarity on What to Build | 1–10 |
| Code Quality & Tech Knowledge | 1–10 |
| Team Collaboration | 1–10 |
| Career Growth & Learning | 1–10 |
| Confidence in Leadership | 1–10 |
| Workload Manageability | 1–10 |
| Impact of My Work | 1–10 |
Skip the manual scoring
HackerPulse pulls workload and focus time data from tools you already use. Your 1:1s start with real numbers instead of self-reported scores.
Try it freeStructure for Weekly 1:1s
Personal check-in
Start with a non-work related conversation. Ask about their weekend, interests, or how they're feeling. This builds trust and surfaces context that affects work.
Review progress
Walk through current tasks and goals. Focus on what's moved forward since last week and what's still in progress.
Identify blockers
Ask directly about obstacles slowing them down. Your job is to remove blockers they can't remove themselves.
Career growth
Discuss long-term aspirations and short-term development goals. Connect their current work to their growth trajectory.
Coaching Questions
- What has been the highlight of your week?
- What challenges are you currently facing?
- Is there anything I can do differently to support you?
- What are your goals for the next 3–6 months?