This article provides an overview of Kona by 15Five: an AI-powered coaching assistant that helps managers grow and lead more effectively—without adding to their workload. By joining 1-on-1 meetings, taking notes, and delivering personalized feedback based on real behaviors and 15Five data, Kona provides in-the-moment coaching that supports managers exactly when and where they need it.
In this article, you will learn...
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⛔️ Required access to Kona.
👥 This article is relevant to Account Admins and Managers.
📦 Kona is available as an add-on for companies on our Total Platform pricing package.
What is Kona by 15Five? 🧠
Kona by 15Five is an AI assistant and coach that helps managers grow and improve without adding to their workload. Integrated seamlessly into meetings, Slack, and the 15Five platform, Kona listens in on 1-on-1 meetings, takes notes, and delivers personalized coaching tips based on each manager’s actual behaviors and 15Five data.
Put simply, it's AI-powered coaching for managers—in the flow of work.
Whether it’s helping new managers ramp quickly, improving accountability and feedback skills, or boosting engagement in underperforming teams, Kona gives real-time, actionable guidance that drives meaningful change at scale.
Kona is part of 15Five’s comprehensive Manager Effectiveness Stack—a powerful combination of expert-led Coaching, science-backed Content, and real-time AI Coaching. Together, these tools give every manager the support they need to build confidence, drive performance, and improve retention—without burdening HR teams or introducing new systems.
Why Kona Exists 💡
Modern managers face constant pressure: lead high-performing teams, retain talent, and drive engagement—all while juggling IC work, meetings, and shifting priorities. Most want to improve, but don’t have the time, tools, or coaching to do it.
HR teams, meanwhile, can’t personally coach every manager—especially those struggling with engagement or team performance. Gaps persist, and business outcomes suffer.
Kona solves both sides of the problem. It provides real-time coaching, at scale, tailored to your managers and your company’s priorities.
- Frictionless experience: Kona works in the background during 1-on-1s
- Actionable takeaways: Coaching tips and action items delivered post-meeting
- Saved time: Automatic notes free up managers to focus on people, not paperwork
- Real improvement: Targeted feedback helps them grow where it matters most
- Target the right managers: Focus on cohorts that need the most support
- Scale coaching instantly: No need for extra headcount or scheduling
- Track measurable change: Visibility into behavior shifts across 18+ skills
- Stay aligned: Kona’s coaching reflects your company values and priorities
Kona doesn’t just make manager support possible: it makes it easy, measurable, and meaningful.
How It Works 🤖
Kona delivers AI-powered coaching in the moments that matter most, without adding work for HR or managers. Here’s how it works, step by step:
- 👂 Joins 1:1s (as a silent participant): Kona seamlessly joins recurring 1-on-1 meetings between managers and their direct reports—no setup required beyond a one-time calendar sync. It listens quietly in the background, capturing the full conversation without disrupting the flow.
- 📝 Takes notes and generates action items: During the meeting, Kona takes clean, structured notes and identifies key action items so managers can stay fully present. Afterward, both participants receive a shareable meeting summary, saving time and improving accountability.
- 📊 Analyzes manager behaviors using 15Five data: Kona uses your existing 15Five data—like engagement scores, performance trends, and manager effectiveness insights—to contextualize what it hears in meetings. It looks for behavioral patterns tied to 18+ critical manager skills, including feedback, coaching, listening, and recognition.
- 💬 Sends coaching tips via Slack, Email, and 15Five: Shortly after each meeting, Kona sends personalized coaching feedback directly to the manager via Slack, email, or within the 15Five platform. These tips are tailored to what happened in the meeting and backed by your company’s best practices and priorities.
- 📈 Tracks progress across 18+ behaviors: Kona continuously tracks how each manager is improving across key effectiveness behaviors. HR leaders get visibility into trends, gaps, and where to focus next—so they can take action that drives measurable change.