The Debrief rubric
Four meeting types, five dimensions each. Every anchor is written from published research, and every source is listed.
One-on-one
Manager and report check-ins, coaching, peer working sessions, standing 1:1s
- Preparation and framing · 20%
- Clarity and concision · 20%
- Close and follow-through · 20%
- Listening and question quality · 20%
- Their agenda and forward action · 20%
Team meeting
Staff meetings, project syncs, decision meetings, planning sessions
- Preparation and framing · 15%
- Clarity and concision · 20%
- Close and follow-through · 20%
- Participation balance and psychological safety · 25%
- Decision and solution focus · 20%
External
Funders, legislators and their staff, agency officials, coalition partners, allies
- Preparation and framing · 20%
- Clarity and concision · 20%
- Close and follow-through · 20%
- Translation and fit to audience · 20%
- Trust-building and the ask · 20%
Presentation
All-staff updates, board updates, trainings, workshops, demos, briefings
- Preparation and framing · 20%
- Clarity and concision · 20%
- Close and follow-through · 20%
- Elicited performance · 20%
- Structure and cognitive load · 20%
How scoring works
Each dimension is scored 1 to 5 against written anchors, and the transcript line that earned the score is quoted in the review. Scores are weighted to a total out of 100. Every type shares three dimensions: preparation and framing, clarity and concision, and close and follow-through. Each type adds two of its own.
Your role changes what a 5 looks like, never which dimensions apply. If you contributed rather than led, you are scored on what was in your control: what you brought, what you said, and what you confirmed. How leading and contributing are scored.
What is never scored
- Other people’s work or decisions.
- Whether your advice was right.
- Feelings guessed from a transcript.
Every source cited in the rubric, with the finding it supports, is on the sources page. Questions or suggestions about the rubric: contact us.