Elevating the Average 1:1: Why Engineering Managers Need Better Tools

Engineering managers today face an unprecedented challenge. Between sprint planning, code reviews, incident management, and stakeholder reporting, the administrative burden has never been higher. Yet, amidst all these responsibilities, one of the most critical aspects of leadership—meaningful one-on-one conversations with team members—often gets pushed to the back burner.

The Current State of 1:1s

In most organizations, 1:1s happen sporadically, if at all. When they do occur, they often devolve into status updates or firefighting sessions. The potential for genuine growth conversations, career development, and team building remains largely untapped.

The Three Pillars of Effective 1:1s

Through years of experience and research, I've identified three critical pillars that make 1:1s truly effective:

• Preparation: Both managers and team members need to come prepared with meaningful topics
• Consistency: Regular, uninterrupted meetings that people can rely on
• Accountability: Following through on commitments and tracking progress over time

Why Traditional Tools Fall Short

Most teams rely on generic note-taking apps, spreadsheets, or email threads to manage their 1:1s. These tools weren't designed for the nuanced needs of leadership conversations. They lack:

• Context preservation: Important themes and patterns get lost over time
• Goal tracking: No way to monitor progress on career development goals
• Preparation prompts: No guidance on what makes a 1:1 valuable
• Relationship insights: No way to understand team dynamics at a glance

The Vision for Better 1:1s

Imagine a world where:

• Every 1:1 builds meaningfully on the last one
• Career goals are actively tracked and progressed
• Team members feel genuinely heard and supported
• Managers have the context they need to provide valuable guidance

This isn't just about better software—it's about unlocking the potential within every engineer and creating environments where people thrive.

Building Something Better

That's why I'm building Dialogr. Not just another productivity tool, but a purpose-built platform that elevates the average 1:1 from a checkbox exercise to a genuine growth catalyst.

The journey starts with understanding that technology should serve relationships, not replace them. The goal isn't to automate human connection, but to remove the friction that prevents it from happening consistently and meaningfully.

Ready to transform your 1:1s? Join our founding supporters and help shape the future of engineering leadership.