name: 1on1-prep version: '1.0' description: 'Prepare for an upcoming 1-on-1. Triggers: ''prep my 1on1 with [name]'', ''1on1 prep'', ''prepare for my meeting with [name]'', ''what should I cover with [name]'', ''get ready for 1on1''.' author: Jonas Diezun category: productivity tags:
- meeting updated: '2026-02-10' visibility: public
1on1 Prep
Generate a sharp prep sheet before a 1-on-1. Pulls open commitments, unresolved loops, and patterns from prior meetings so you walk in with a plan, not an improvisation.
When to use: 5-10 minutes before a 1-on-1 Time: ~2 minutes Output: 1-page prep sheet with opener, accountability check, and push topics Inputs: Prior transcripts, follow-ups, coaching reviews for that person
Workflow
Step 1: Identify the Person
User: "prep my 1on1 with Brad"
→ Look in 04-workspace/ceo-office/1on1s/brad/
If no name: ask "Who's the 1-on-1 with?"
Step 2: Load Context
Pull from these sources in order:
Latest follow-up:
04-workspace/ceo-office/1on1s/{person}/followups/— most recent file- Open commitments (yours and theirs)
- Open loops
- "Ask next time" question
Last 2-3 transcripts:
04-workspace/ceo-office/1on1s/{person}/transcripts/— most recent 2-3 files- Topics covered, tone, recurring themes
- Promises made — were they kept?
Latest coaching review (if exists):
02-projects/Beam/10-1on1-excellence/04-outputs/{person}/- Expert-flagged gaps
- Top actions you were supposed to work on
Step 3: Generate Prep Sheet
═══════════════════════════════════════
1ON1 PREP — {Person}, {Date}
═══════════════════════════════════════
Last meeting: {date} ({days} days ago) | {1-line summary}
────────────────────────────────────────
🎯 OPEN WITH
────────────────────────────────────────
"{Specific opening question — based on their biggest
open commitment from last time. Not 'how are things?'
but 'Show me X that you committed to.'}"
Why this opener: {1 sentence — what it tests or unblocks}
────────────────────────────────────────
📋 ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK
────────────────────────────────────────
THEIR open commitments (from last meeting):
- [ ] {Commitment} — status: {Unknown/Overdue/Due}
- [ ] {Commitment} — status: {Unknown/Overdue/Due}
YOUR open commitments (from last meeting):
- [ ] {Commitment} — have you done this? {Yes/No/Partial}
- [ ] {Commitment}
💀 DEAD ITEMS (committed but never followed up):
- {Item from 2+ meetings ago that was never revisited}
────────────────────────────────────────
🔥 PUSH TOPICS
────────────────────────────────────────
1. {Topic to push on} — Why: {context from transcripts}
→ Ask: "{Specific question}"
2. {Topic to push on} — Why: {context}
→ Ask: "{Specific question}"
3. {Topic to push on} — Why: {context}
→ Ask: "{Specific question}"
────────────────────────────────────────
⚡ COACHING FOCUS (for yourself)
────────────────────────────────────────
Based on your last review/follow-up, focus on:
• {One behaviour to practice in THIS meeting}
Avoid:
• {One pattern to break — from prior coaching notes}
────────────────────────────────────────
Step 4: Save
Save to: 04-workspace/ceo-office/1on1s/{person}/preps/{date}-prep.md
If the preps/ subfolder doesn't exist, create it.
Prep Sheet Guidelines
OPEN WITH
The opener is the most important line. It sets the tone for the entire meeting.
- Always accountability-first. Lead with their biggest commitment.
- Never open with small talk or "how are things." That's how 1-on-1s become status updates.
- Good: "Last time you said you'd pick the ONE product. What is it?"
- Good: "You committed to the product strategy doc. Show me."
- Bad: "So what's new?"
- Bad: "How's the team doing?"
ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK
- Pull ALL open commitments from the last follow-up
- Check: did YOU deliver on your commitments? Be honest. If you didn't, acknowledge it — don't just skip it.
- DEAD ITEMS are critical: things committed 2+ meetings ago that were never revisited. These are trust killers. Either close them or explicitly cancel them.
PUSH TOPICS
- Max 3. You won't cover more in a 30-minute meeting.
- Each needs a specific question, not a topic label. "Ask about hiring" is useless. "How many candidates in pipeline for head of ops? Show me the tracker." is useful.
- Prioritize: what has the highest impact if unblocked THIS week?
COACHING FOCUS
- Pull from the latest coaching review or follow-up notes
- ONE thing to practice, ONE thing to avoid
- This is for YOU, not for them. Private.
- Good: "Practice: set a deadline on every commitment before the call ends."
- Good: "Avoid: taking work onto yourself ('I'll figure out the makeup part')."
- Bad: "Be a better listener."
How This Connects to Other Skills
BEFORE meeting: 1on1-prep ← you are here
AFTER meeting: 1on1-followup ← capture commitments + coaching notes
WEEKLY/BIWEEKLY: 1on1-review ← deep expert analysis
The prep skill feeds from follow-up outputs. The follow-up feeds into the next prep. The review catches patterns the cycle misses.
┌─────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│ PREP │────→│ MEETING │────→│ FOLLOW-UP │
│ (before)│ │ (the 1on1) │ │ (after) │
└────▲────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────┬──────┘
│ │
└───────────────────────────────────────┘
feeds into
┌─────────────┐
│ REVIEW │ (weekly/biweekly deep dive)
│ (5 experts) │
└─────────────┘
Example
User: "prep my 1on1 with Brad"
AI: [Loads brad/followups/2026-02-05-followup.md]
[Loads last 2 brad transcripts]
[Loads brad coaching review if exists]
═══════════════════════════════════════
1ON1 PREP — Brad, 2026-02-10
═══════════════════════════════════════
Last meeting: 2026-02-05 (5 days ago) | ONE repeatable product, makeup/funnel
────────────────────────────────────────
🎯 OPEN WITH
────────────────────────────────────────
"Last time I asked you to pick the ONE workflow we sell
100 times. What is it? Show me the plan."
Why: This was the central commitment. If he doesn't
have it, nothing else matters.
────────────────────────────────────────
📋 ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK
────────────────────────────────────────
THEIR open commitments:
- [ ] Pick the ONE repeatable product — status: Unknown
- [ ] UNLEASH messaging/materials — status: Unknown
- [ ] Accenture finance/banking scoping — status: Unknown
YOUR open commitments:
- [ ] Landing page / funnel / "makeup" — have you done this?
- [ ] Chat about meetings to set up — did this happen?
💀 DEAD ITEMS: None (first follow-up cycle)
────────────────────────────────────────
🔥 PUSH TOPICS
────────────────────────────────────────
1. The ONE product — Why: Brad agreed but didn't explicitly
name it. He drifted to "suite" thinking multiple times.
→ Ask: "Name it. One sentence. What do we sell 100x?"
2. UNLEASH prep — Why: Event date unknown, materials unstarted
→ Ask: "When is UNLEASH? What's ready? What's not?"
3. Pipeline — Why: Brad said most prospects are "middle of
nowhere America." NYC is covered.
→ Ask: "How many meetings this week? Show me the list."
────────────────────────────────────────
⚡ COACHING FOCUS (for yourself)
────────────────────────────────────────
Practice: End every commitment with a deadline. Don't let
"I'll do it" fly without "by when?"
Avoid: Taking work onto yourself. Last time you said
"I'll figure out the makeup part." Push it down.
────────────────────────────────────────
Micro-skill: Walk in with a plan. Open with accountability. Push on 3 things. Get out.