10 AI Prompts Every Engineering Manager Should Have (I Use These Weekly)

1. 1:1 Prep — Surface What Matters Before every 1:1 I fill in a short prompt that generates questions tailored to where that engineer actually is right now. The goal is to get past status updates. I'm an engineering manager preparing for a 1:1 with [ENGINEER NAME], a [LEVEL] engineer. They've been working on [CURRENT PROJECT]. Recently I've noticed: [OBSERVATION]. Generate 5 thoughtful 1:1 questions that: - Open with something that shows I've been paying attention - Dig into how they're really feeling (not just status updates) - Surface blockers or frustrations they might not volunteer - Connect their work to their career growth - End with one forward-looking question about what they need from me Tone: Warm, direct, genuinely curious. The observation field is where the magic is. "They seem disengaged lately" or "they've been shipping fast but skipping tests" generates very different questions. It's like having a coach help you prepare. 2. Delivering Hard Feedback Without Losing Trust I