Kona by 15Five is an AI assistant that joins your 1:1 meetings to capture notes and deliver coaching feedback to managers. This guide provides full documentation for users integrating and using Kona.
This article contains the following sections:
- Overview 🌐
- Setup ⚙️
- Using Kona in Zoom 🎥
- Using Kona in Teams and Outlook 📧
- Using Kona in Google Meet 📅
- Troubleshooting 🔍
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓
Access and availability
⛔️ Required access to Kona.
👥 This article is relevant to Account Admins and Managers.
📦 Kona is available as an add-on for companies on our Perform and Total Platform pricing packages.
Overview 🌐
Kona joins meetings between a manager and their direct report to:
- Automatically take notes and generate action items
- Deliver coaching insights to the manager based on meeting content
- Support continuous growth across 18+ key management behaviors
Note
Kona does not record or store video/audio content. Meeting data is transient and securely processed for note-taking and feedback purposes only.
Setup ⚙️
Follow the steps below to set up Kona in your account.
- Click on the Settings gear in the top right-hand corner of your 15Five account.
- Select "My Settings" from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll to the bottom of your settings and click Connect under 'Zoom Integration' if you use Zoom or 'Outlook' if you use Outlook. To remove the app connection, click Remove Zoom/Remove Outlook.
Note
You will only see the option to connect your Zoom/Outlook account if an Account Admin has granted you access to Kona.
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You will receive an onboarding invite via email (and Slack if enabled at your org). After clicking the invite:
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Connect your calendar (Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook) so Kona can identify upcoming 1:1s.
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Authorize your video meeting platform (Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams).
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Using Kona in Zoom 🎥
Scheduling a Meeting
- Schedule the meeting in Google Calendar (recommended: 5–10 minutes ahead)
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Add the following participants:
- Your direct report
- Kona bot: bot@15five.com
- Include a Zoom link using the “Add video conferencing” option
During the Meeting
Kona will:
- Join automatically at the scheduled time
- One-time recording permission—no more repeated prompts
- Begin note-taking automatically or ask for permission to record (based on your Zoom settings)
- Display as a standard participant named “Kona” in the Zoom meeting
In-meeting Chat Commands
You can control Kona using Zoom's in-meeting chat:
- Kona pause - (Temporarily stops note-taking)
- Kona start - (Resumes note-taking)
- Kona leave: - (Ends note-taking and removes Kona from the meeting)
After the Meeting
Within minutes of the meeting ending, you (the manager) and your direct report will receive the following via Slack direct message and/or email (depending on notification settings):
- A summary of meeting points
- A list of action items
Managers will also receive personalized coaching tips.
Using Kona in Teams and Outlook 📧
Scheduling a Meeting
- Schedule the meeting in Outlook (recommended: 5–10 minutes ahead)
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Add the following participants:
- Your direct report
- Kona bot: bot@15five.com
- Include a Teams link using the “Add online meeting” option
During the Meeting
Kona will:
- Join automatically at the scheduled time
- One-time recording permission—no more repeated prompts
- Notes are taken in real time
- Display as a standard participant named “Kona” in the Zoom meeting
In-meeting Chat Commands
No chat-based commands at this time in Teams.
After the Meeting
Managers receive:
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Pre-meeting nudges via Email
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Post-meeting summaries via Email (notes, detected behaviors, coaching insights)
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Monthly insights via Email
✏️ Unlike Slack users, Teams users do not yet receive messages inside Teams chat. Email is the primary delivery method.
Using Kona in Google Meet 📅
Scheduling a Meeting
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Schedule your 1:1 in Google Calendar.
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Add your direct report and the Kona bot (bot@15five.com).
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Choose “Google Meet” under conferencing options.
During the Meeting
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Kona joins automatically at the scheduled time.
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Works similarly to Zoom: takes notes and provides coaching feedback.
After the Meeting
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Pre-meeting nudges, post-meeting summaries, and monthly insights are delivered via:
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Slack (if enabled)
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Email
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Troubleshooting 🔍
- Confirm your calendar connection in 15Five Settings
- Ensure that both your direct report and bot@15five.com are on the invite
- Verify that a Zoom/Google Meet/Outlook link is included in the calendar event
- Check your email inbox and Slack/Teams (if enabled with your org).
- If the issue persists, contact your company liaison or reach out to 15Five's Support Team
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓
Your direct report will receive meeting notes and action items. Coaching tips are private and sent only to you as the manager.
You can say: “Hey [Name], I’m trying out a new notetaker called Kona for our 1:1s. Kona will join our next meeting and take notes for us, which it will send to each of us in Slack after the meeting. The recording and transcript of our meeting are deleted after the meeting ends. The notes Kona takes are 100% private between us. This will help me keep track of our conversations and action items, as well as receive some coaching on how I can support you better going forward. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this.”
No. The recording and transcript are never stored in Kona’s systems.
All data is encrypted at rest and in transit. Notes are private and accessible only to the manager and their direct report. More details are available in our Privacy Policy.
No. Notes are private and shared only between you and your direct report.