Stop Over-Engineering
Your 1:1 Meetings
Notion is powerful, but do you really need a database to track your team's growth? Sprutia gives you everything you need, nothing you don't — built specifically for engineering managers.
The Notion Overhead Problem
Powerful doesn't always mean practical
Database Overkill
"Should this be a relation to the Projects table?" You're spending more time designing your 1:1 schema than having conversations.
Setup Paralysis
Two weeks of template building before your first 1:1. Endless property tweaking. When does the actual managing start?
Generic Everything
Notion knows wikis, not 1:1s. No built-in understanding of engineering management, career development, or team dynamics.
Maintenance Burden
Databases break, templates need updates, views stop working. You signed up to manage people, not a content management system.
Analysis Paralysis
"I could create a rollup formula to track..." Stop. You need insights, not spreadsheet wizardry. Where are the management-specific analytics?
Team Confusion
"Wait, do I click the database or the page?" Your team spends time figuring out your complex workspace instead of focusing on growth.
Different Tools, Different Jobs
Notion excels at knowledge management and team wikis. Sprutia excels at engineering management and team development. Both are great — but for different purposes.
Notion is for Documentation
Building team wikis, project specs, and knowledge bases. It's the company brain.
Sprutia is for Management
Running 1:1s, tracking team growth, and developing people. It's your management toolkit.
Pro tip: Use both! Keep your team docs in Notion, your 1:1s in Sprutia. They're complementary, not competitive.
Right Tool, Right Job
Setup Time: Minutes vs Weeks
Compare the management experience
| Feature | Notion | Sprutia |
|---|---|---|
| Time to First 1:1 | 2-3 weeks Database design + template building | 2 minutes Add team member + pick template |
| Pre-built Templates | Build everything yourself | Junior, Senior, Staff, Lead templates |
| Management Analytics | Build custom formulas IF/THEN statements for insights | Built-in manager effectiveness scoring |
| Learning Curve | High Databases, relations, formulas | Minimal If you can use email, you can use Sprutia |
| Action Item Tracking | Manual database updates Remember to check boxes | Automatic reminders & follow-ups |
| Mobile Experience | Functional but complex Database views on mobile | Designed for managers on-the-go |
| Maintenance Required | High Templates break, databases need updates | None Just works, automatic updates |
| Purpose-built for Engineering | Built by eng managers, for eng managers |
From Database Designer to Manager
Real stories from managers who made the switch
Alex Thompson
Staff Engineer → Manager, CloudTech
Before (Notion):
"I spent two weeks building the perfect 1:1 database. Relations to our projects table, rollup formulas for tracking goals... I was so proud of my system. Then I realized my team was confused and I was spending more time updating properties than actually managing."
After (Sprutia):
"I added my team and had our first structured 1:1 the same day. No database design, no formula debugging. Just good conversations with built-in follow-up tracking. I actually feel like a manager now, not a database administrator."
Maya Patel
Engineering Manager, StartupCorp
Before (Notion):
"Every few months my Notion workspace would break. A template would stop working, or I'd accidentally mess up a formula. I'd spend hours fixing it instead of focusing on my team. The cognitive overhead was exhausting."
After (Sprutia):
"It just works. Every time. No maintenance, no debugging, no 'why is this view empty?' moments. I can focus on what matters: helping my team grow. The mental relief is incredible."
When to Use What
Both tools are great - in their right place
Use Notion For
- Team wikis and documentation
- Project specifications and requirements
- Company handbooks and processes
- Meeting notes (not 1:1s, but team meetings)
- Complex data that needs custom structure
Use Sprutia For
- 1:1 meetings and team development
- Goal tracking and career development
- Action item tracking and follow-ups
- Manager effectiveness and team insights
- Anything that needs to "just work" for management
Stop Building, Start Managing
Time saved on setup and maintenance
Make the Switch in 5 Minutes
Your Notion setup took weeks. Migration takes minutes.
Export Key Info
Copy the important stuff from your Notion database - team names, recent notes, open action items.
Setup Sprutia
Add your team members and choose appropriate templates. No database design required.
Start Managing
Schedule your first 1:1 with auto-generated agenda. Keep Notion for docs, use Sprutia for people.
Common Questions
Making the switch from Notion
Can I still use Notion for other things?
Absolutely! Many of our users keep Notion for team wikis, project docs, and company handbooks. Use Notion for knowledge management, Sprutia for people management.
What if I've invested a lot of time in my Notion setup?
We get it - sunk cost is real. But consider: how much time are you spending maintaining that setup? Most managers find they recoup their "investment" in saved maintenance time within the first month.
Is Sprutia less powerful than Notion?
Different kind of power. Notion is like a Swiss Army knife - lots of tools, some complexity. Sprutia is like a great chef's knife - does one thing incredibly well. For 1:1s, focused power beats flexible complexity.
What about all my existing 1:1 data in Notion?
Keep it for reference! You can export the key information to Sprutia for ongoing tracking, and leave the historical data in Notion as an archive. Many managers do a gradual transition over a few weeks.
Ready to Simplify Your Management?
Stop spending time on database design and template debugging. Start focusing on what matters: developing your team.