This simple document will help you get promoted (and impress your boss)

Let me ask you something.

What’s your strategy for your 1:1 meetings with your boss?

If you’re showing up with no plan, hoping your boss will guide the conversation…

…you’re missing a huge opportunity

BIG CONFESSION: I used to be too lazy (though I called it “busy”) to prioritize meetings with my boss.

And after being reprimanded for it a few times, I realized how much it was costing me.

The Problem

Too many people walk into 1:1 meetings without a game plan.

No agenda.
No structure.
No proof of their impact.

It leaves your manager wondering…

• How can we best use this 30 minutes today?
• What progress have they made since we last met?
• How can we use this time to move projects forward vs just chit chat?

That lack of clarity can hurt your reputation and limit your growth opportunities.
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The Big Small Thing

Want to stand out in your weekly 1:1 with your manager?

(Or any high-stakes meeting?)

Bring a clear, structured agenda. Every time.

Put it in a Google doc and share with your boss.

(And yes — you’ll use the same doc every week. Think of it as a running record of your work. Update it as you go, keeping everything in one place.)

Use my 3+ Section Agenda for your 1:1 doc:

1️⃣ Business: What’s happening in the business?

2️⃣ People: Update on people and team dynamics.

3️⃣ Operations: Update on processes, logistics, and things affecting your work schedule.

Career: (Add this every six weeks.) What are your growth goals? How can your manager support you?

And by “use my 3+ Section Agenda” I literally mean use mine👇

I’ve created a template for you HERE. Make a copy and add your own bullets each week.

By the way… if you want more templates like this, I’ve got more waiting for you in my new book Wild Courage.​In Wild Courage, I walk you through exactly how to influence your boss, advocate for yourself, and make sure your impact doesn’t go unnoticed.​Because the people who move up? They don’t just hope their work gets recognized. They make sure of it.​​Preorder your copy here.​

Here’s a real example of a CLEAR agenda from my 1:1 doc:

And here’s what NOT to do:

See the difference?

In the 1st example, your manager gets a crystal-clear view of your impact.

In the 2nd example, they’re left guessing what you’ve actually accomplished.

Okay, I need to add a 3rd example — and I saw it more than you’d expect as a Google exec:

And yes, it’s blank intentionally.

No doc, no prep. We’re talking senior managers who reported to me who just, well, showed up and figured we’d come up with stuff to talk about.

The people who brought a clear, structured agenda every time were the ones who impressed me.

And it’s an easy way for you to impress your boss too.

PRO TIP: Add links to proof of your work to your 1:1 doc.

Could be slides. Docs. Spreadsheets. Even screenshots of feedback.

This shows your work in action and makes it easy for your boss to grab your work and share it with their boss.

 How This Helps You Get What You Want

When you bring a strong agenda, you do 3 things:

1️⃣ Show that you’re prepared and proactive
2️⃣ Make it easy for your manager to advocate for you
3️⃣ Keep the conversation focused on your impact and goals

And here’s the best part…

Your agenda becomes a running record of your work and wins.

When performance-review season rolls around, your boss already has a one-stop shop for your impact.

So you’ll be top of mind for promotions and new opportunities.

Sounds like winning to me.

Let’s do this.