This Article is great for:
- Achieve Plan accounts
- Managers
- Individual Contributors
1:1s are designed to guide you through thoughtful, productive conversations, helping you stay aligned with your goals while ensuring regular, impactful check-ins.
Getting Started with 1:1s
To create a new 1:1 discussion:
Go to your Bonusly homepage and click Growth at the top of the page.
Click Current 1:1 on the lefthand sidebar. Then, click the Create 1:1 button.
Select a date, time, and meeting frequency option for your 1:1. You can choose to meet on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. When you're done, click the Create 1:1 button.
Note: Click Link to calendar and select your calendar provider to connect your 1:1 to an already scheduled event.
Note: Click Link to calendar and select your calendar provider to connect your 1:1 to an already scheduled event.
Your new 1:1 event details will appear on your Weekly 1:1 tab.
1:1 Features
Weekly 1:1
Got something on your mind this week? Write it down! This section lets you jot down thoughts, questions, or challenges before your meeting. Our agenda structure helps your conversation and make every 1:1 the most effective it can be. While we provide a framework of categories, topics can be modified to fit each role and relationship.
Weekly Check-in
Weekly check-ins make it easy for employees to share how they’re really doing without the pressure of a big conversation. Users submit a score (1.0–5.0) ahead of their 1:1, with space to add context or a quick note. Bonusly reacts to the score in real time and prompts the manager to follow up with insight, empathy, or support.
Managers can reuse notes from past check-ins to maintain continuity across conversations, helping them stay present, responsive, and connected. It’s a simple signal that powers better coaching, stronger trust, and smarter support.
Context Drawer
The context drawer displays all recognition and feedback you've received between your previous 1:1 and your next one.
Add a Transcript
It's easy to lose track of what was said, promised, or celebrated in a meeting—especially when the next one is already on the calendar. With Bonusly's in-product transcription, you can record your one-on-one meetings directly or upload existing transcripts. The transcript reader makes it simple to upload transcripts, generate instant summaries, and revisit the full conversation history from any past meeting.
Managers can quickly get up to speed, follow up on action items, and reinforce feedback or praise with more consistency. Whether you’re preparing for the next check-in or catching up after time away.
Adding a Transcript during your 1:1
Users can record at any time and are nudged to record closer to the meeting start time. The Transcribe button will only be enabled when they are both present.
Outside of the 1 hour countdown period, an indicator will show when both parties are in the same document, enabling the recording feature.
A countdown banner appears within 1 hour of the meeting start time prompting users to start recording.
To begin recording, one person initiates the process, which sends a notification to the other party to also press record, ensuring both users consent to record at the same time.
Users can pause the recording at any time for private conversations and then resume when they are ready. Pausing will be synchronized for both users.
Click the Add transcript button to add a transcript from your previous 1:1 meeting. Bonusly will use the transcript to generate a meeting summary with a list of covered topics.
Note: You can edit the meeting summary and transcript after your meeting:
Click the meeting summary or transcript ellipsis icon.
Select Edit from the dropdown.
Make any necessary changes. Then, click Save.
Shared Notes
When both sides contribute, the conversation gets better. Shared notes make it easy for managers and employees to plan, capture, and follow up on what matters most in their 1:1s.
Users can co-create topics, add lists, reorder goals, and even embed images or recurring agenda items. No more rigid templates or one-way conversations—just a shared, flexible space where performance, priorities, and people all stay in sync.
Visit the Goals help center article for detailed instructions on how to create and manage your goals.
To quick-add a topic of discussion or goal from the Weekly 1:1 tab:
Hover over the + icon and click Add topic or Add Goal.
Complete the Topic Discussion or Goal text field.
Note: Click the ellipsis icon and then click the Repeat topic or Don't repeat button to enable or disable the same topic for all future 1:1 meetings.
AI-powered Agenda Suggestions
The Agenda uses your typed or transcribed 1:1 content to offer distinct agenda topic suggestions for both direct reports and their managers.
To view your Auto Magical Agenda, visit your Weekly 1:1 page (Growth > Weekly 1:1).
Click one of the Auto Magical Agenda suggestions to add it as a topic of discussion for your 1:1 meeting.
Note: Recent activity and recognitions will also appear in the Context Drawer on the Weekly 1:1 tab.
Performance Recap
The Performance Recap section pulls together recent recognition and feedback, organized by themes like project labels, to set the stage for meaningful discussions. This allows you to easily reflect on key moments from the past week that align with your current projects, personal growth, or areas of focus.
Use this section to recall key moments that can inform your conversation, such as projects you're working on, milestones you've hit, or feedback you want to act on.
To access your Performance Recap, click Growth and then select the Performance Recap tab from the left-hand sidebar.
Click Create custom recap to create a new custom recap.
Revisiting and Scheduling 1:1s
Past 1:1s
To view past one-on-one meetings, use the date drop-down menu in the top-right corner of your 1:1.
Editing
To change the day or frequency of your one-on-ones, click the three dots in the top-right corner of your 1:1 and select 1:1 settings.
This will open a pop-up window where you can choose the day of your meeting, set it to occur weekly or bi-weekly, or cancel the series altogether. Click Save changes when you're done making changes.
Email Digest
Both managers and direct reports will receive email reminders about their
upcoming 1:1.
The email will show them new check ins or topics added by the other participant.
The email will show a short recap of their previous 1:1.
Users can use quick links to add their own check ins and topics.
The Auto Magical Agenda uses your typed or transcribed 1:1 content to offer distinct agenda topic suggestions for both direct reports and their managers.
To view your Auto Magical Agenda, visit your Weekly 1:1 page (Growth > Weekly 1:1).
Click one of the auto magical agenda suggestions to add it as a topic of discussion for your 1:1 meeting.
