Running 1:1s That Improve Performance & Trust

This 2-hour workshop gives you a framework for running 1:1s that are structured conversations to build trust, allow to collaboratively work together to plan concerns and how to overcome them, and drive actionable growth.

Do your 1:1s feel like:

• Status updates that could’ve been a Slack message. No real conversation happening.
• Unstructured, rambling chats without purpose. Nothing meaningful gets discussed.
• A lot of discussion but there’s no next steps or actions.
• You do all the talking instead of listening.

This 2-hour workshop gives you a framework for running 1:1s that are structured conversations to build trust, allow to collaboratively work together to plan concerns and how to overcome them, and drive actionable growth.

The Problem

Tech leaders either skip 1:1s entirely or run them without much thought defaulting to the usual: “How’s everything going?” And then the conversation happens and it’s “fine” but nothing came out of it.

Without structure and intention, 1:1s become a chore instead of the most powerful tool you have for building trust, catching problems early, and helping your team grow. When they’re done well, 1:1s are where your best leadership happens. When they’re not, there’s silence, awkwardness and disengagement.

Who This Is For

• Engineering Managers running 1:1s that feel flat or repetitive
• Tech Leads who want to build stronger relationships with their direct reports
• New managers figuring out what a good 1:1 actually looks like
• Senior software engineers stepping into leadership and needing a structured plan

What You’ll Walk Away With

• The 1:1 Purpose Framework: the four core objectives (trust, concerns, growth, collaboration) and how to balance them across your conversations
• A preparation model for setting clear objectives, building a shared agenda, and making the meeting worth showing up to
• The Active Listening Toolkit: open-ended questions, reading non-verbal cues, and creating space for honest conversation instead of surface-level answers
• Common mistakes mapped out (lack of prep, ignoring signals, neglecting follow-up) and how to avoid each one
• Group activity practice with Andrew and the group

How It Works

• 2-hour live online session (Zoom)
• Short teaching blocks on models and frameworks, then real practice. You’ll run through 1:1 scenarios in small groups using realistic situations and the preparation worksheet
• You’ll leave with the 1:1 Preparation Worksheet and Follow-Up Template to use in your next meeting
• Q&A with Andrew

About Andrew Murphy

Andrew is a tech geek and tech leadership educator. With 20+ years in the tech industry, starting out as a developer, he’s passionate about bridging the gap between tech and people leadership. Previously he has led and grown engineering teams in start-ups and enterprises.

Details

• Date: Wed 1 July 2026
• Time:
• • Melbourne: 10am - 12pm AEST
  • New Zealand: 12-2pm NZST
• Where: Online (Zoom link sent after registration)
• Investment: $250 AUD (could you use your learning and development allowance?)