Using the 1-on-1 Tool
A guide to using Ninety's 1-on-1 tool for meetings, quarterly reviews, annual discussions, and more.
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Account Options and Troubleshooting
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Integrations
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Getting Started
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Insights
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Scorecard
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Rocks
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To-Dos
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Issues
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Meetings
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Headlines
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V/TO
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Accountability Chart
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1-on-1
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People and Toolbox
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Directory
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Knowledge Portal
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Assessments
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Mobile
Table of Contents
The 1-on-1 Tool
The
1-on-1 tool contains our people management features, including:
- Quarterly Reviews
- Annual Reviews
- The People Analyzer® reviews
Each of these features has its own page; learn more below.
Quarterly and Annual Reviews
Quarterly and Annual Reviews
This article provides best practices for completing your review, explaining the different sections of the forms, what each party sees, and the differences between Quarterly and Annual Reviews.
Watch this video for an overview.
What Are Quarterly and Annual Reviews
Quarterly and Annual Reviews are 1-on-1 Reviews focusing on how a direct report:
- Displays Core Values
- GWCs their Seat
- Gets it
- Wants it
- Capacity to do it
- Performs on their Measurables
Additionally, direct reports review their manager using the Leadership and Management Assessments (LMA).
Tip: When preparing the forms, block at least 15 minutes on your calendar so you can think through your responses, adding detailed descriptions to each prompt.
Quarterly Reviews
Creating Quarterly Reviews
If there are no active Quarterly Reviews in your 1-on-1 tool, click Create Review in the middle of the screen.
Otherwise, follow these steps:
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Click Create Quarterly Review.
- Name this Quarterly Review and provide a Description.
- Choose a Time Period:
- Click a start and end date from the pop-up calendar or
- Click one of the custom buttons at the top of the pop-up.
- Choose a Due Date.
- Ensure the correct Manager is listed.
- Add Managees (direct reports) using Add Managee(s) toward the bottom of the Create Quarterly Review window.
- By adding more than one Managee, separate Quarterly Reviews are created for each direct report listed.
- If the Managee has more than one Seat, select the Seat being reviewed in this Quarterly Review.
- Click Create Review.
Watch the video below to see these steps in action.
Fill Out the Form
The Manager and Managee fill out their forms separately before the Quarterly Review occurs. Click Save for Later any time on the left side menu to save your progress on the form and return later.
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Click Start Form or Resume Form.
- Core Values. Rate how well the direct report embodies Core Values using the +, +/-, and - options and add a comment.
- GWC. Rate how well the direct report GWCs their Seat using the Yes or No dropdown menu and add a comment.
- Performance Data. Examine the direct report's progress on Rocks and the Measurables they're accountable for and add a comment.
- General Notes. Write additional notes here.
- Leadership Assessment. Rate the Manager's ability to perform the Leadership qualities listed using the Yes or No dropdown menu and add a comment.
- Management Assessment. Rate the Manager's ability to perform the Management qualities listed using the Yes or No dropdown menu and add a comment.
- General Notes. Write additional notes here.
- Attachments. Add any relevant materials.
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Click Finish. Users may not edit their form after clicking Finish.
+ indicates regularly embodying this Core Value.
+/- indicates sometimes embodying this Core Value.
- indicates rarely, if ever, embodying this Core Value.
View Completed Forms
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Toggle on Show Completed.
- Click on your name in the Filters bar to choose who you want to see the previous Quarterly Reviews of (users with the Managee user role can only view themselves).
- Click View Form on the Review you wish to view.

Hold the Meeting
After both parties have completed their forms, a meeting icon appears on the Quarterly Reviews row. Whether in-person or over video chat, the Manager should run and display the meeting through Ninety.
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Click Start Meeting on the Quarterly Review.
- Discuss the answers of both the Manager and Managee, shown side-by-side.
- The Manager can change the answers on the form during the meeting, if necessary.
- Have each person authenticate the form by typing their name and entering the date in the signature section.
- Click Finish.
Note: At any time, you can click the Save for Later button on the left side menu to save your progress on the form and return later.
Annual Reviews
Create an Annual Review
If there are no active Annual Reviews in your 1-on-1 tool, click Create Review in the middle of the screen.
Otherwise, follow these steps:
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Click Annual Review on the top right, just below the filter bar.
- Name of this Annual Review and add a Description.
- Choose a Time Period:
- Click a start and end date from the pop-up calendar or
- Click one of the custom buttons at the top of the pop-up.
- Choose a Due Date.
- Ensure the correct Manager is listed.
- Add Managees (direct reports) using the Add Managee(s) button.
- Adding more than one Managee creates separate Annual Reviews for each direct report.
- If the Managee has more than one Seat, select the Seat being reviewed in this Annual Review.
- Click the Create Review button.
Watch the video below to see these steps in action.
Fill Out the Form
Both the Manager and Managee fill out their forms separately before the Annual Review occurs. Click Save for Later any time on the left side menu to save your progress on the form and return later.
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Click Start Form or Resume Form.
- Core Values. Rate how well the direct report embodies Core Values using the +, +/-, and - options and add a comment.
- GWC. Rate how well the direct report GWCs their Seat using the Yes or No dropdown menu and add a comment.
- Performance Data. Examine the direct report's progress on Rocks and the Measurables they're accountable for and add a comment.
- Strengths & Key Accomplishments. List some of the direct report's personal strengths and accomplishments in their Seat for the year.
- Area(s) that Needs Improvement. What can the direct report improve on? Write your answer here.
- Plan to Get Things on Track. How can the direct report make these improvements?
- General Notes. Write additional notes here.
- Leadership Assessment. Rate the Manager's ability to perform the Leadership qualities listed using the Yes or No dropdown menu and add a comment.
- Management Assessment. Rate the Manager's ability to perform the Management qualities listed using the Yes or No dropdown menu and add a comment.
- General Notes. Write additional notes here.
- Attachments. Add any relevant materials.
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Click Finish. Users may not edit their form after clicking Finish.
+ indicates regularly embodying this Core Value.
+/- indicates sometimes embodying this Core Value.
- indicates rarely, if ever, embodying this Core Value.
View Completed Forms
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Toggle on Show Completed.
- Click the Annual Reviews tab.
- Click your name in the Filters bar to choose who you want to see the previous Annual Reviews of (users with the Managee user role can only view themselves).
- Click View Form on the Annual Review you wish to view.
Hold the Meeting
After both parties have completed their forms, a meeting icon appears on the Annual Review's row. Whether in-person or over video chat, the Manager should run and display the meeting through Ninety.
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Click Start Meeting on the intended Annual Review.
- Discuss the answers of both the Manager and Managee, which are shown side-by-side.
- If needed, the Manager can change the answers on the form during the meeting.
- Have each person authenticate the form by typing their name and entering the date in the signature section.
- Click the Finish button.
Note: At any time, you can click the Save for Later button on the left side menu to save your progress on the form and return later.
Privacy of Feedback Reviews
Only Owners, Admins, and those involved in the meeting can see responses.
Role Permissions
Based on your role, you will see specific content on these pages.
- Owner, Admin, and Implementer: can see all Reviews in their company.
- Manager and Managee: can see all Reviews they are a part of.
- Observer: does not see the Feedback Tool.
How to Delete a Review
To delete a scheduled review for any reason, the manager who scheduled the review should:
- Click the ellipsis at the end of the review's row.
- Click Delete from the options shown.
If the manager who created the review is no longer at your company, reach out to our support team to remove the review for you.
Customizing 1-on-1 Review Questions
Customizing 1-on-1 Review Questions
Admins, Owners, and Coaches can use the 1-on-1 tool to customize commitments and questions used in Reviews.
Any changes to commitments or Review questions are made for the whole organization.
Customizing the questions and commitments used in a quarterly review or annual review is a great way to keep these important conversations tailored to the participants. Users with Manager or higher permissions can customize Review settings through the 1-on-1 tool.
Review questions are always open-ended written responses in Ninety, while a simple Yes or No dropdown assesses commitments.
To edit a question or commitment on an annual review:
- Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation.
- Click the Quarterly Reviews or Annual Reviews tab.
- Click the gear icon on the far right of the Filters bar to open the Review Settings page.
- Click on an existing commitment or question to edit directly.
- (Optional) Click the plus sign on the commitments tab to create a new commitment.
- (Optional) Click “Add Question” on one of the questions pages to create a new question.
- Click the Save button when finished.
Creating and Editing Commitments
Access Review Settings by clicking 1-on-1 from the left navigation and then clicking the settings gear icon on the top right of the page to create new or edit existing commitments. Read through the tabs below to see what you can do from there.
Creating
New commitments are added to the bottom of their respective list. You can drag and drop commitments into your desired order.
- Click the plus sign next to either Leadership or Coaching Commitments.
- Click the new commitment called “Commitment Name.”
- Write a new title.
- Click Add Descriptor to add additional context (optional).
- Click the Save button.

Click the toggle to switch from how your team members and managers will read each commitment to increase how they'll be read and understood. You can edit the language of the same commitment in each view.
For example, the second default leadership commitment has different language for each user in a Review:
- Team members will read: “I am provided the necessary resources.”
- Managers will read: “I provide the necessary resources.”
Editing
Click any commitment to change its title and add or remove descriptors in the Edit Commitment panel.

Deleting
Click the trashcan icon on any commitment's or descriptor's row to delete it.
Organizing
Hover over and then click and hold the six-dots icon on the left of a commitment or descriptor to drag and drop items into your preferred order.
Resetting
Click Reset at the top right of the page to:
- Click Cancel Changes to remove any unsaved changes to your Review Settings.
- Click Reset to Default to remove every change you've made to Review Settings.
Both options result in permanent changes that cannot be undone.
Creating and Editing Review Questions
Access Review Settings by clicking 1-on-1 from the left navigation and then clicking the settings gear icon on the top right of the page to create new or edit existing Review questions. Then, click on the Quarterly Questions or Annual Questions tab. Read through the tabs below to see what you can do from there.
Questions for Quarterly and Annual Reviews are always open-ended, written responses.
Creating
- Click Add Question at the bottom of the current list of questions.
- Write the new question's Side Bar Link (this usually describes the category of the question).
- Write the new question's text.
- Click Save.

Editing
Click an existing question's Side Bar Link or Question text to access its text field.
Deleting
Click the trashcan icon on any question's row to delete it.
Organizing
Hover over and then click and hold the six-dots icon on the left of a question to drag and drop items into your preferred order.
Resetting
Click Reset at the top right of the page to either:
- Click Cancel Changes to remove any unsaved changes to your Review Settings.
- Click Reset to Default to remove every change you've made to Review Settings.
Both options result in permanent changes that cannot be undone.
The People Analyzer®
The People Analyzer
Beta Feature
This feature is currently in beta for a select group of companies and users. Learn more about our beta program here. Please be advised, this feature may change before becoming generally available.
The People Analyzer® is an essential component of the EOS Toolbox. Use this tool to strengthen your organization's People Component® by ensuring you have the right people in the right seats.
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What Is the People Analyzer®?
The People Analyzer is a core EOS® tool that helps you assess two fundamental questions about each team member:
- Are they the right person? Do they embody your company's Core Values and fit your culture?
- Are they in the right seat? Do they have the innate talents and skills to excel in their specific role?
As Gino Wickman notes in Traction, the People Analyzer is among the top five tools that EOS clients use most frequently. This makes sense when you consider that many organizational issues ultimately trace back to people challenges — whether someone doesn't align with your Core Values or isn't suited for their current role.
Getting Started — How to Use Ninety's People Analyzer Tool
Before using the People Analyzer, you or your leadership team should:
- Ensure your Core Values are defined in your V/TO. If they haven't been added yet, we'll prompt you with a direct link to complete this step. Learn more about Core Values here.
- Establish your company's Bar for both Core Values and GWC. This sets clear expectations across your organization. Learn how below in the section of this article called “Setting The Bar.” Learn more about GWC here.
- Assign your team members to a Seat on the Accountability Chart. To begin a review of a team member, they must first be assigned to at least one Seat on the Accountability Chart. Learn how here.
How to Start a New People Analyzer Review
To start a new People Analyzer review:
- Navigate to the People Analyzer tool. Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation. Then, click the People Analyzer tab above the filters bar.
- Identify the team member(s) to review. Use the Person and Team dropdowns to narrow your search, or use the carets at the bottom of the list to find team member(s) to review. Click the checkbox on the left side of each user's row you'd like to review. If you've been assigned one or more team members to review, they'll appear in a list titled Assignments on the right side of the page.
- Launch the review window. Click Review on the right side of the team member's row or the Review users button at the bottom of the list if you used the checkboxes. If you selected more than one team member, you can use the carets next to their profile images to choose which person to review first.
- Review how well the team member exhibits your Core Values. Select plus ("+"), plus/minus ("+/-"), or minus ("-") for each of your Core Values. Even if the team member sits in more than one Seat, you'll only evaluate their Core Value adherence once, since Core Values supersede Seats.
- Review how well the team member GWCs their Seat(s). Select “Yes” or “No” for Gets it, Wants it, and Capacity to do it. If the team member sits in more than one Seat, click the Review next Seat button and repeat this process.
- Add any comments. Type any relevant comments in the textbox provided.
- Complete the review. After rating each Core Value, assessing the GWC for each Seat, and leaving any relevant comments, click the Complete button to save the review.
How to See Previously Completed People Analyzer Reviews
To review previously completed People Analyzer assessments, simply left-click a team member's row on the People Analyzer page. If any reviewer has left comments, a clickable comment line will appear below the review's date; click it to view the comments.

How to Assign a People Analyzer Review as a To-Do in Ninety
To request a review of a team member from a leader in your company:
- Navigate to 1-on-1 > People Analyzer.
- Click the ellipsis on the far right of the team member's row.
- Click Invite user to review.
- Select one or more users from the User dropdown to receive a private To-Do to perform a People Analyzer review. Then, click Invite.
Using the People Analyzer® in Ninety
Ninety's updated People Analyzer brings this powerful EOS tool into a streamlined digital format with enhanced capabilities:
- Collaborative Multi-Person Reviews: Invite multiple users to review the same person, gathering diverse perspectives on their performance and fit. You can also evaluate multiple people in a single session, making the review process more efficient.
- Instant Results: As soon as you complete the scoring for Core Values and GWC, you'll immediately see whether the person is the right person in the right seat.
- Visual Performance Bars: See at a glance how team members measure against your company-defined thresholds through color-coded visual indicators.
- Flexible Evaluation Process: Save partially completed evaluations and return to finish them later — just like other Ninety tools, such as Quarterly Conversations.
- Historical Tracking: View past evaluations as snapshots in time, even if Core Values or seat definitions later change. This gives you valuable insight into growth and alignment trends.
- Assignment Capabilities: Assign People Analyzer evaluations as To-Dos.
Role-Based Access
Access to People Analyzer data is carefully controlled based on your role:
- Owners: Full access to create, complete, and configure evaluations; can view all completed People Analyzer reviews.
- Admins: Similar capabilities to Owners, but cannot see the reviews completed by Owners.
- Implementers: View-only access to most evaluations; can configure company-level performance bars.
- Managers: Can create and complete evaluations for direct reports; they can only see evaluations they participated in.
- Mangagees/Team Members: Can view evaluations performed on them by others.
How the People Analyzer Works
The tool uses a simple, two-part evaluation system:
Part 1: Core Values Assessment
Your team members are rated on how well they live each of your company's Core Values. These values come directly from your V/TO® (Vision/Traction Organizer®) and represent the behaviors and characteristics that define your culture.
The rating system is straightforward:
- + (Plus): They consistently exhibit this Core Value.
- +/- (Plus/Minus): Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't — they're inconsistent.
- - (Minus): Most of the time, they do not exhibit this Core Value.
Part 2: GWC™ Evaluation
GWC stands for Get It, Want It, and Capacity to Do It. This framework helps you determine if someone is suited for their specific seat:
- Get It: Do they truly understand the role and its responsibilities? Do they grasp how their job relates to and affects others? Do all the neurons connect for this position?
- Want It: Do they genuinely want to do this job? Do they wake up each day motivated to do the work? Do they demonstrate passion for it?
- Capacity: Do they have the intellectual, emotional, and physical capability—as well as the time—to do the job? This includes their education, training, and experience.
For GWC, the answer is binary: yes or no. There are no maybes. Each element must be an emphatic YES.
Multi-Seat Evaluations

If a team member occupies more than one seat in your organization, you'll need to evaluate the GWC for each seat separately to complete a People Analyzer review. While their Core Value alignment will remain the same, you'll click Review next Seat to continue evaluating their GWC before you can complete the review. This ensures a comprehensive assessment of their fit across all responsibilities.
If you're reviewing someone who sits in multiple seats, but you cannot fairly assess whether they GWC one or more of their seats, collaborate with another leader who can and complete the People Analyzer together.
Setting The Bar

EOS teaches that every organization needs to establish "The Bar" — the minimum acceptable standard for determining if someone is the right person in the right seat.
For Core Values: If your company has five Core Values, the EOS recommended Bar is any combination of three "plus" ratings and two "plus/minus" ratings, with no "minus" ratings.
For GWC: EOS recommends that The Bar be three emphatic yeses.
When someone meets or exceeds The Bar for both Core Values and GWC, they're the right person in the right seat.
How to Set The Bar
Users with Owner or Admin permissions can set The Bar for the company. Here's how:
- Navigate to the People Analyzer in Ninety. Click 1-on-1 from the left navigation. Then, click the The People Analyzer® tab at the top of the page.
- Access the People Analyzer Settings. Click the gear icon on the far right of the filters bar.
- Select your bar for the company's Core Values. At the top of the settings panel, select the number of minuses ("-") and plus/minuses ("+/-") you'll accept using the corresponding dropdowns.
The Four People Scenarios
The People Analyzer reveals one of four possible outcomes for each team member:
- 🟩 Right Person, Right Seat: They embody your Core Values AND GWC their seat—these are your Great People
- 🟨 Right Person, Wrong Seat: They fit your culture but aren't suited for their current role
- 🟨 Wrong Person, Right Seat: They excel at the job but don't align with your Core Values
- 🟥 Wrong Person, Wrong Seat: They neither fit your culture nor excel in their role
These clear categories help leadership teams identify where coaching, role changes, or other interventions are needed.
When to Use the People Analyzer
While you can use the People Analyzer anytime in Ninety, it's particularly impactful during:
- Quarterly Conversations: These regular check-ins provide a natural opportunity to evaluate team members against Core Values and GWC, ensuring consistent feedback and development.
- IDS® (Identify, Discuss, Solve) Sessions: When working through Issues, the People Analyzer helps quickly identify whether people challenges are at the root of the problem.
- Vision Building Days: During organizational planning, leadership teams can evaluate whether departmental team members fit Core Values and GWC their seats.
- Hiring Decisions: Use the framework to ensure new hires will be the Right Person for your culture and the right peoplefor the role.
The Impact of Getting People Right
When you use the People Analyzer to ensure you have the right people in the right seats, the impact on your organization can be transformational. You'll build teams where:
- People genuinely fit your culture and embody your Core Values.
- Employees are in roles that match their innate talents and skills.
- Team members are passionate about their work and excel at it.
- Leadership time is spent developing great people rather than managing poor fits.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Implementing the People Analyzer can reveal uncomfortable truths — you might discover team members in the wrong seats or people who don't embody your Core Values. These are challenging Issues to solve, but identifying them is the first step toward building a healthier organization.
For team members below The Bar:
- Schedule one-on-one time to discuss specific areas for improvement.
- Consider whether a different seat might be a better fit for them.
- Provide clear expectations and a timeframe for improvement.
- Remember: being the wrong person doesn't mean they're a bad person.