Thomas McClean
Engineering Manager · Bristol, UK
Engineering manager and software engineer with 15+ years building web platforms. Founder of Manager Toolkit. Currently leads the Web Foundations team at Just Eat Takeaway.
About
I'm Thomas, an engineering manager and software engineer based in Bristol, UK. I've spent 15+ years building web platforms and now lead the Web Foundations team at Just Eat Takeaway, a force-multiplier team that supports every other team that ships on the customer-facing site.
I built Manager Toolkit because the work of managing people kept getting scattered across notes apps, calendars, and spreadsheets. I wanted one place that respected your data, captured everything that mattered, and helped you spot patterns you'd otherwise miss. Privacy and transparency aren't features I tacked on; they're why the product exists.
I write here about the practical side of managing teams: running better one-to-ones, capturing useful retrospectives, setting targets people care about, and the hundred small habits that separate effective managers from busy ones.
Articles by Thomas
70 articles
HiringRecruitmentHow to Build a Hiring Pipeline
The best hires rarely come from a single job advert. A strong hiring pipeline means you are always building relationships with future candidates, not.
6 min readRead
Team managementLeadershipHow to Build a Culture of Accountability
Accountability is not micromanagement. Learn how to make commitments visible, follow through without chasing, and fix breakdowns before they spread.
7 min readRead
People developmentCareer developmentHow to Create a Development Plan for Your Team
Development plans that sit in a drawer help nobody. Here is how to create practical, motivating plans that connect individual growth to real work.
6 min readRead
Team managementMeetingsHow to Manage Across Time Zones
Time zone gaps do not have to mean communication gaps. Here is how to make async work, schedule fairly, and keep distributed teams aligned.
7 min readRead
HiringInterviewsHow to Perform a Great Interview
A great interview is structured, fair, and gives both sides the information they need. Plan questions, calibrate signal, and leave time for candidate questions.
6 min readRead
Difficult conversationsTeam managementHow to Handle a Team Member Who Wants to Leave
When someone tells you they want to leave, your response in that moment shapes everything. Here is how to have the conversation and plan the transition.
7 min readRead
PerformanceDifficult conversationsHow to Handle a Toxic Team Member
One person can drag down an entire team. Ignoring the problem is not neutral - it is choosing the toxic person over everyone else.
7 min readRead
LeadershipProductivityHow to Give a Great Presentation to Senior Leadership
Senior leaders do not want detail. They want decisions, risks, and what you need from them. Here is how to structure a presentation that lands.
7 min readRead
CollaborationCross-functionalHow to Manage Cross-Functional Collaboration
Cross-functional work fails when ownership is unclear and communication is assumed. Here is how to set up collaboration that actually delivers results.
6 min readRead
Team managementMeetingsHow to Manage a Hybrid Team Effectively
Hybrid teams fail when remote members become invisible. Here is how to make meetings fair, communication async-first, and office time intentional.
7 min readRead
HiringTeam managementHow to Hire an Employee: A Manager’s Guide
Hiring well is one of the highest-leverage things a manager can do. Here is a practical, end-to-end guide to defining the role, sourcing candidates,.
7 min readRead
People developmentLeadershipHow to Write a Promotion Case for Your Team Member
Most promotion cases fail because they lack evidence. Here is how to build a compelling case over time so your team member gets the recognition they deserve.
7 min readRead
PrioritisationProductivityHow to Prioritise When Everything Feels Urgent
When everything is a priority, nothing is. Here is how to cut through the noise, make clear decisions, and help your team focus on what actually matters.
6 min readRead
New managersMeetingsHow to Run Your First Team Meeting as a New Manager
Practical advice for running your first team meeting as a new manager, from setting the right tone to following up.
7 min readRead
Team managementMeetingsHow to Set Up a Weekly Team Rhythm
Build a weekly team rhythm that keeps people aligned without filling every calendar slot. Standups, 1:1s, and retros.
7 min readRead
LeadershipTeam managementHow to Manage Someone Older or More Experienced Than You
Managing someone with more experience than you is common and uncomfortable. Here is how to earn respect and lead well.
7 min readRead
Difficult conversationsTeam managementHow to Deal With a Disengaged Team Member
Spot the signs of disengagement early and have the right conversation before it becomes a performance issue.
7 min readRead
Team managementMeetingsHow to Run a Productive Team Offsite
Plan a team offsite that balances real work with relationship building, and capture actions that survive the trip home.
7 min readRead
CoachingPeople developmentHow to Coach an Underconfident High Performer
Some of your best people hold themselves back. They deliver excellent work but never put themselves forward.
6 min readRead
BudgetChange managementHow to Manage a Team Through Budget Cuts
Budget cuts test everything a manager stands for. Here is how to protect your team, communicate honestly, and keep morale intact when resources shrink.
6 min readRead- ProductivityTools
Why Managers Need a Document Hub (Not Just a Shared Drive)
The problem with scattered documents across Google Drive, Notion, Confluence, and email. A connected document hub keeps the right files next to the work they support.
7 min readRead 
MeetingsAgileHow to Run an Effective Stand-Up Meeting
Stand-ups should surface blockers and keep work moving, not become a daily status report nobody listens to. Here is how to make yours worth the time.
5 min readRead- ProductivityTeam management
From Idea to Delivery: How to Keep Team Projects on Track
Practical advice on running team projects as a people manager. Covers setting clear goals, breaking work into actions, using status updates instead of.
8 min readRead 
Career developmentPeople developmentHow to Support a Team Member Through a Career Change
When someone on your team wants to pivot to a different role or function, a good manager makes the transition smoother - not harder.
6 min readRead- ProductivityActions
Why Every Manager Needs a Project Tracker (Not Just a To-Do List)
The difference between tracking tasks and tracking initiatives. Why scattered actions fail without a unifying project context, and how connecting.
7 min readRead - InclusionCulture
How to Create an Inclusive Team Culture
Inclusion is not a policy. It is a set of daily habits that determine whether people feel they belong.
7 min readRead 
FeedbackSurveysHow to Run a 360 Feedback Cycle
A 360 feedback cycle gives people a rounded view of how they are perceived. Here is how to design the right questions, collect honest feedback, and.
7 min readRead- StakeholdersCommunication
How to Manage Stakeholder Expectations
Stakeholders want results, visibility, and confidence that things are on track. Here is how to manage those expectations without overpromising or burning.
6 min readRead 
Psychological safetyTrustHow to Build Psychological Safety in Your Team
Teams that feel safe to speak up, disagree, and admit mistakes consistently outperform those that do not.
7 min readRead- People developmentCareer development
How to Develop Your Team Members
Development is the thing managers know they should prioritise but consistently deprioritise. A simple cadence and a few good questions keep growth on the agenda.
7 min readRead 
PeopleProfilesTeam Member Profiles for Better Management
Team member profiles help you manage people as individuals, not headcount. Here is what to include, how to keep them updated, and how software makes it.
7 min readRead
MeetingsLeadershipHow to Run a Skip-Level Meeting
Skip-level meetings give you direct insight into how your team is really doing. Here is how to run them without undermining your direct reports or making.
6 min readRead- 1-1sMeetings
Best One to One Meeting Software for Managers
A practical guide to choosing the right one to one meeting software. Learn what to look for in a 1:1 meeting tool, how to build a consistent catchup.
8 min readRead 
MentoringPeople developmentHow to Become a Great Mentor
Great mentoring is not about having all the answers. It is about listening well, guiding without directing, and building a relationship where someone.
7 min readRead
Team normsCollaborationHow to Create a Team Charter
A team charter aligns everyone on purpose, values, and ways of working before misunderstandings start.
5 min readRead
Conflict resolutionTeam managementHow to Manage Conflict Between Team Members
Conflict is inevitable in any team. Left unaddressed it festers. Handled well, it builds trust. A practical playbook for getting two people back on the same page.
6 min readRead- Change managementLeadership
How to Lead Your Team Through Change
Change is constant but it affects every person differently. Here is how to communicate honestly, support your people, and maintain trust when the ground.
7 min readRead 
PerformancePerformance reviewsHow to Prepare for a Performance Review
A good performance review starts long before the meeting. Here is how to gather evidence, structure your thinking, and have a conversation that actually.
6 min readRead
New managersLeadershipHow to Transition from IC to Manager
The promotion from IC to manager is one of the least understood transitions in any career. Your scorecard changes overnight, and the skills that got you here will not.
7 min readRead- RecognitionFeedback
How to Give Recognition That Actually Lands
Generic praise does nothing. Specific, timely recognition builds motivation and trust. Here is how to make your recognition count.
5 min readRead 
PerformancePerformance reviewsHow to Handle Underperformance as a Manager
Underperformance rarely fixes itself. Ignoring it is unfair to the person and the rest of the team. Address it early with clarity, structure, and consistent follow-up.
7 min readRead- DelegationLeadership
How to Delegate Without Losing Control
Delegation is not dumping work. Done well, it develops your team and frees you to focus on what only you can do.
6 min readRead 
AIClaudeConnecting Manager Toolkit to Claude with MCP
Manager Toolkit now has a Model Context Protocol server. Connect it to Claude and you can manage your teams, create actions, run retrospectives, and more.
6 min readRead- Team managementPeople development
How to Build a High-Performing Team
High-performing teams are not hired-they are built. Here is what managers do differently to get the best from the people they already have.
6 min readRead 
JourneysLeadershipJourneys: Guided Pathways for Every Manager
Whether you are stepping into your first management role or supporting a team member through a promotion, Journeys gives you a structured plan with.
6 min readRead
New managersLeadershipChallenges Every New Manager Faces
Becoming a manager is one of the biggest transitions in a career. Here are the real challenges you will face in your first 90 days-and what to do about.
7 min readRead
SurveysFeedbackSmarter Surveys with Conditional Questions
Most survey tools hide conditional logic behind complexity or charge extra for it. Branching, follow-ups, and skip rules should be free and obvious from day one.
5 min readRead- FeedbackLeadership
How to Have Difficult Conversations at Work
Difficult conversations do not get easier by putting them off. Here is how to approach them with honesty and empathy so the outcome is better for everyone.
6 min readRead - MeetingsProductivity
How to Write Useful Meeting Notes
Most meeting notes get written and never opened again. Here is how to capture the right things so they serve a purpose before the next meeting.
5 min readRead - TargetsOKRs
OKRs vs SMART Goals for Your Team
Both frameworks help teams set direction. But they work differently, suit different situations, and have different failure modes.
6 min readRead 
ToolsProductivityThe Best Free Tools for Managers in 2026
The right tools reduce the admin that eats your day and help you show up better for your team. Here are the best free options available right now.
5 min readRead- Remote teamsMeetings
Keeping Remote Teams Aligned
More meetings are not the answer to remote misalignment. Here is how to keep your team moving in the same direction without filling everyone's calendar.
5 min readRead 
TargetsPeople developmentWhy Targets Matter
Development goals scatter across notes and performance docs. When they are invisible, you cannot track progress, and people feel forgotten.
4 min readRead
Key themesPatternsWhy Key Themes Matter
Patterns scatter across notes and docs. By the time you notice something is systemic, it has already become a problem.
3 min readRead
AIProductivityWhy AI Summaries Matter
You have the data, but turning it into a clear list of what to focus on takes time you do not have. AI summaries close that gap so you act on insight, not noise.
4 min readRead
LaunchProductManager Toolkit is live
A single place for your team, your 1-1s, retros, actions, and goals. We built it for managers who want to show up prepared and keep work moving.
2 min readRead- TrustLeadership
How to Build Trust With Your Team as a Manager
Trust is not given with the title. It is built through small, consistent actions over time. Here is what actually moves the needle.
5 min readRead 
New managersLeadership5 Common Mistakes New Managers Make
Most new managers make the same five mistakes. None of them are obvious at the time-which is exactly what makes them so common.
6 min readRead
New managersLeadershipThe New Manager's Survival Guide
The jump from individual contributor to manager is harder than it looks. Here is what to focus on in your first 90 days to set yourself up well.
7 min readRead- TargetsPeople development
SMART Goal Examples for Managers
SMART goals sound simple but are easy to get wrong. Here are real examples across different roles and scenarios to help you write better targets.
6 min readRead 
SurveysFeedback20 Employee Survey Questions for Honest Feedback
The right survey questions give you real signal about how your team is feeling. Here are 20 questions that prompt honest, actionable responses.
5 min readRead- RetrospectivesTeam management
30 Retrospective Questions Teams Actually Answer
Good retrospective questions get honest, useful responses. Here are 30 questions across formats to make your next retro genuinely productive.
6 min readRead 
1-1sMeetings50 Great 1-1 Meeting Questions
The best 1-1 questions open up real conversations. Here are 50 questions covering wellbeing, growth, blockers, feedback, and more.
8 min readRead
RetrospectivesTeam managementWhy Holding Retrospectives Matters
Most teams ship and move on. Retros break that pattern, turning a vague ‘we will do better’ into the specific changes that lift quality over time.
4 min readRead- SurveysFeedback
Why Holding Surveys Matters
Not everyone speaks up in meetings. A short survey gives everyone a slot - in their own time, often anonymously.
4 min readRead - 1-1sCatchups
Why Holding 1-1s Matters
Cancel a 1-1 twice and the message is clear. Protect the slot and show up with context - that is when real stuff gets said.
4 min readRead - ActionsProductivity
Why One Action List Matters
One to-do list connected to all your events and context. Create actions in seconds, prioritise by urgency, and never forget why you promised to do.
3 min readRead 
1-1sMeetingsWhy Showing Up Prepared to Meetings Matters
Walk in with no idea what you discussed last time and the other person feels forgotten. A quick scan of last time changes that.
4 min readRead- TeamsPeople
Why Keeping Your Team in One Place Matters
Team lists in HR, catchups in docs, actions in Asana. Every tool sees a fraction of your people. Keep everything in one place and patterns finally start to surface.
3 min readRead 
DashboardProductivityWhy a Manager Dashboard Matters
The best way to start every day with clarity and focus. Add and remove widgets, change your theme, and act instantly without navigating away.
3 min readRead