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Assigned Topics in 1-on-1 Conversations

Assign discussion topics to 1-on-1s by demographics to guide timely, effective conversations across your organization.

Jessie Walsh avatar
Written by Jessie Walsh
Updated this week

Who can use this feature?

Available on:

  • All subscriptions that include 1-on-1 conversations.

Overview


Assigned Topics help administrators guide 1-on-1 conversations across their organization. You can assign discussion topics directly to manager-employee 1-on-1s that match specific demographics. Topics can be sent immediately or scheduled for a future date.

Why Use Assigned Topics?


  • Drive effective conversations by suggesting meaningful discussion prompts

  • Ensure alignment between 1-on-1s and your organization’s goals and values

  • Encourage adoption of 1-on-1s across teams. Research shows that organizations benefit when managers and employees have regular conversations.

What’s the Thinking Behind Assigned Topics?


Assigned topics are most effective when they spark relevant conversations—not when they’re used to push reminders or compliance. They work best when they feel timely, collaborative, and thoughtful.

🧠 Want to learn more about the science and best practices behind Assigned topics? Read our guide to the thinking behind Assigned topics

How it Works


Assign a Topic Immediately

  1. Click on 1-on-1s in the toolbar, then select Assigned Topics from the dropdown.

  2. Click Assign a topic.

  3. Under Demographic Matching, choose:

    • Match all demographics OR

    • Match any demographic

  4. Click + Add Demographic to define your audience (e.g., Country = Germany).

  5. Click View list to preview employees who will receive the topic.

  6. Add a Topic Title and Note (the discussion prompt).

  7. (Optional) Add an Annotation (e.g., “on behalf of HR”) to clarify the sender.

    • Topics are attributed to the last editor.

  8. Under When to assign, choose Now.

  9. Click Assign Topic to send. The status will show as Sending during processing.

  • Your topic will be added to all manager/employee 1-on-1 conversations for employees matching your selected demographics.

  • Managers will also see the topic in their conversations.

Schedule a Topic for Later

  1. Follow the same steps as above.

  2. In the When to assign section, select Schedule for later.

  3. Choose a date and time

  4. Click Assign Topic to confirm

  • Conversations are matched at the scheduled time, not when the topic is created.

  • If demographics are removed before the scheduled time, the topic won’t send. You will receive an email notification, and the status will show Action Required.

Managing Assigned Topics


As an admin, follow these steps to manage assigned topics:

  1. Go to 1-on-1s > Assigned topics.

  2. Click Add filters to filter topics by things such as status:

    • Assigned

    • Scheduled

    • Draft

    • Recalled

    • Action Required

  3. Apply additional filters as needed, such as:

    • Created by

    • Scheduled date

    • Created date

    • Edited date

  4. Click Edit columns to customize your table view.

Cancel a Scheduled Topic

  1. Go to 1-on-1s > Assigned Topics

  2. Locate the topic (use filters if needed)

  3. Open the topic and click Revert to Draft

  4. Edit, reschedule, or delete as needed

Recall an Assigned Topic

  1. Go to 1-on-1s > Assigned topics

  2. Locate and open the topic

  3. (Optional) Use View list to see who viewed it

  4. Click Recall topic and confirm

    • Recalled topics are removed from conversations but remain visible in the admin table as Recalled.

    • Use Copy to draft to resend a corrected version

What Do Users See?


  • Assigned Topics show up directly in manager-employee 1-on-1s

  • They’re labeled with who assigned them

  • Optional annotations show the sender's name or role

Notes & Tips


  • Use a trial run by assigning a topic to your own team first

  • Sent topics cannot be edited—only recalled and duplicated

  • Topics can only be assigned by demographics, not individual users

  • Only manager-employee 1-on-1s can receive assigned topics

FAQs


Can managers assign topics?

No. Only administrators can assign topics.

Can I delegate the ability to assign topics to someone else?

Not at this stage. Only account administrators can assign topics, and the permission can’t be delegated to other users.

Are assigned topics available for any type of 1-on-1 conversation?

No. Assigned topics are only available in manager-direct report conversations. They won't appear in other types of 1-on-1s.

Why is the matched conversation count higher than my employee count?

Employees can have more than one active manager conversation, and each of those conversations will still match the demographic.

Can I see who viewed a topic?

Yes! In the Assigned Topics table, use the “Viewed by” column. A topic counts as “viewed” once it’s been visible on someone’s screen. Marking it as “discussed” is a separate step.

Can I see a list of scheduled or sent topics?

Yes, the Assigned topics table can be filtered to show any status including draft, scheduled, sent and recalled. Combined with sorting options this enables insights like a chronological view of all scheduled or sent topics.

Are notifications sent when a topic is assigned?

Yes. Assigned topics trigger the same notifications as any other topic. This means managers and employees will receive an email and—if enabled on your account—a Slack or Microsoft Teams message when a topic is added to the conversation.

Can I do a test first?

We recommend starting with a small trial by assigning a topic to your own team. This helps you experience the feature as a recipient and shows you how to write topics that are clear and easy to understand.


💬 Need help? Just reply with "Ask a Person" in a support conversation to speak with a Product Support Specialist.

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