Running 1:1s for Engineers | Off by One
A practical, repeatable framework for running weekly engineering 1:1s using the People, Product, Process structure—with exact scripts, Notion setup, and tips for making them actually useful.
October 21, 2025 10 min read Most engineering managers know they’re supposed to run 1:1s. Yet, many wing the format. I’ve seen too many 1:1s that meander, skip weeks, or devolve into status updates that could’ve been a Slack message. Here’s what works for me: a simple, repeatable structure that I use every single week. It’s based on the popular People, Product, Process format (which I also use for measuring engineering productivity). I’m going to give you the exact script I use, the Notion setup, and some ideas for how to handle each section. Goals Before we get into the mechanics,…
saved by
related reading
- Measuring Engineering Productivity | Off by Onejustoffbyone.com
- About - The Engineering Managertheengineeringmanager.com
- The unreasonable effectiveness of one-on-ones | benkuhn.netbenkuhn.net
- Irrational Exuberancelethain.com
- Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedulepaulgraham.com
- Meetings for an effective eng organization.lethain.com
- Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedulepaulgraham.com
- Everyone is doing 1on1s wrong. I think. | Andreas Klingerklinger.io
- Rands in Repose – Stories about the humans who build softwarerandsinrepose.com
- Ask A Girlboss: How to Have Better 1:1s with Your Manager — Girlbossgirlboss.com
- Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedulepaulgraham.com
- On 1:1s - Know thy audience - by Zainabzainabghadiyali.substack.com