This article explores the challenges managers face during one-on-one meetings, especially when conversations become unfocused. It delves into why team members might over-explain and offers strategies for managers to steer discussions toward clarity and productivity.
I strongly disagree - if you cannot swim in the same technical waters as your direct reports, and get lost when they try to explain the issues they're facing (and possible resolutions), you are not well-suited to manage them.
I get where you’re coming from, but you’re conflating two different things: technical depth and conversational clarity.
Being able to “swim in the same technical waters” is important—but this post isn’t about a manager being out of their depth. It’s about being flooded with unstructured thinking.
Even the most technically competent managers can feel lost when updates come as raw brain dumps instead of synthesized insights. And ironically, the more context you do have, the more exhausting it is to parse through scattered information and reconstruct the puzzle yourself—especially across multiple reports and projects.
Clear communication isn’t a luxury. It’s a multiplier.
The manager’s job isn’t to absorb every detail—it’s to help their team focus on what matters, make decisions faster, and see patterns across noise. That’s not a sign of weakness. It’s leadership.
Being able to “swim in the same technical waters” is important—but this post isn’t about a manager being out of their depth. It’s about being flooded with unstructured thinking.
Even the most technically competent managers can feel lost when updates come as raw brain dumps instead of synthesized insights. And ironically, the more context you do have, the more exhausting it is to parse through scattered information and reconstruct the puzzle yourself—especially across multiple reports and projects.
Clear communication isn’t a luxury. It’s a multiplier.
The manager’s job isn’t to absorb every detail—it’s to help their team focus on what matters, make decisions faster, and see patterns across noise. That’s not a sign of weakness. It’s leadership.