1:1 Topics

1:1 Topics helps you prepare for manager conversations by tracking discussion items. Instead of trying to remember what you wanted to talk about, add topics throughout the week and review them before your meeting.

How It Works

1. Add topics as they come up during your work week
2. Add notes with context or questions for each topic
3. Review before your 1:1 to prepare for the conversation
4. Mark complete after discussing with your manager

Adding Topics

When to Add Topics

Add a topic when you:

• Have a question you need your manager's input on
• Want to share an update on something important
• Need to discuss a challenge or blocker
• Have feedback about team dynamics or processes
• Want to discuss career development
• Need to escalate something

Good Topic Examples

Topic	Why It Works
Project X timeline concerns	Specific, actionable
Career path discussion	Important for development
Cross-team collaboration friction	Clear issue to address
Request for training budget	Concrete ask
Feedback on recent presentation	Specific event

Topics to Avoid

Topic	Better Alternative
Things	Be specific: "Resource allocation for Q2"
Stuff	Be specific: "Team morale concerns"
Random	Wait until you have something concrete

Adding Notes

Each topic can have notes to provide context. Use notes to:

• Capture background - What led to this topic?
• List questions - What specifically do you want to ask?
• Note desired outcome - What do you want from the conversation?
• Record details - Facts or data that support the discussion

Example

Topic: Cross-team collaboration friction

Notes:

• Last two handoffs from Design took longer than expected
• Wondering if we need a process change or just better communication
• Want to discuss before next sprint planning

Active vs. Completed Topics

Active Topics

Topics you haven't discussed yet. These appear in your "Active" tab and are what you'll review before your 1:1.

Completed Topics

Topics you've discussed with your manager. Moving a topic to "Completed" keeps a record of what you've talked about but removes it from your active list.

When to mark complete:

• You discussed the topic in your 1:1
• The topic is no longer relevant
• The issue resolved itself

Managing Your Topics

Before Your 1:1

1. Review your active topics
2. Prioritize which to discuss first
3. Update notes with any new context
4. Consider which topics can wait

During Your 1:1

• Work through your topics in priority order
• Take notes on decisions or action items
• Don't feel obligated to cover everything

After Your 1:1

• Mark discussed topics as complete
• Add any new topics that came up
• Note any follow-up items

Best Practices

Add Topics Throughout the Week

Don't wait until the day before your 1:1. Add topics as they come up so you don't forget them.

Be Specific

Vague topics lead to unfocused conversations. "Project concerns" is less useful than "Project X deadline seems unrealistic given current scope."

Include Context

A topic with notes is more valuable than just a title. Help your future self remember why you added it.

Prioritize

You may not discuss every topic every week. Put the most important ones first.

Keep History

Completed topics create a record of what you've discussed. This helps track recurring themes and follow-ups over time.

Visibility

Your 1:1 topics are visible to:

• You - Always
• Your manager - Can see your topics and notes

This shared visibility helps your manager:

• Prepare for your 1:1
• Understand what's on your mind
• Address concerns proactively

Privacy

While your manager can see your topics, you control what you add. If something is sensitive, you can:

• Add a placeholder topic and discuss verbally
• Schedule a separate conversation
• Use the topic to flag that you need to talk about something without details