Become an Effective Software Engineering Manager

How to Prepare for One-to-Ones

As you’ve been applying what you’ve been learning in the book so far, you’ll already have a recurring weekly meeting booked in with your direct reports. If you haven’t done that yet, it’s time to do it.

Ideally, you’ll want them to be at the same time and in the same place each week, using video conferencing software if one or more parties are remote. Don’t move them around unless absolutely necessary: you’ll want to have a predictable, safe, regular touchpoint with your staff that they can rely on. With time, both you and your staff will batch up things to talk about as they unfold over the course of each week.

Make sure that you’re having the meeting in a private area, such as a meeting room. Don’t do them ...