As an engineering manager, I recognize that some people are comfortable talking through things extemporaneously in a 1:1 or a group setting, while others prefer

As an engineering manager, I recognize that some people are comfortable talking through things extemporaneously in a 1:1 or a group setting, while others prefer chewing on the problem a bit and crafting their ideas at their own pace. That's why I try to make space for both ends of the spectrum. One of the practices I've had great success with is a weekly update note, where my direct reports have the opportunity to write out their thoughts about how the week has gone and to raise any concerns. There have been too many times to count when a "slow thinker" has identified a problem via that channel that they didn't raise in our conversations, because they felt more comfortable being able to choose their words carefully in an async manner. If I hadn't made space for that kind of communication, I would have lost out on really smart ideas.