The Best-Self Kickoff is a structured meeting between a manager and a direct report. It uses science-backed questions to build psychological safety and establish a stronger working relationship from the start. Answers each person enters in their 15Five profile directly feed the Kickoff conversation.
Feature Structure
- Location: Direct report's profile → About tab → View Best-Self Kickoff button
- Participants: Manager and one direct report (run separately per report)
- Format: Sequential question-and-answer review, completed together in real time
- Duration: Approximately one hour per session
- Documentation surface: 1-on-1 agenda (for recording notes during the meeting)
What You Can Do
Set Up
Manage
Analyze / Reference
Common Issues
Key Rules
- Both the manager and the direct report must complete their profiles before running the Kickoff. Unanswered profile questions will create gaps in the Kickoff content.
- Run a separate Kickoff for each direct report. The meeting is one-on-one only.
- Use the Kickoff when a new working relationship starts, after a promotion, or when manager and direct report need to reset expectations.
- Leaders can assign managers the Kickoff task using bulk actions or an Action Plan.
- After completing the Kickoff, 15Five recommends following up with a role-clarity conversation.