[Festro]

My old manager used to spreadsheet my KPIs/goals and add notes to it for my grievances/questions. So, each time we'd score the KPIs to see my progress, and check up on the status of all the questions, clearing out any resolved ones.

That made for very clear and easy progress at each 1:1.

Otherwise, we'd always try to get out of the office for it. They'd buy me a coffee or similar. It was nice to change the setting, put me at ease, talk out of earshot, candidly, and feel valued.

I use all of that now myself with anyone I'm managing.