---
name: "Manager Research & Benchmarks"
description: "User wants to research management best practices, benchmarks, or industry standards.
Triggers: \"best practices\", \"how do other companies\", \"benchmark\", \"manager ratio\",
\"upskilling programs\", \"DEI strategies\", \"burnout prevention\", \"engagement research\"
"
requiredApps: [exa]
---
Research-backed insights for people managers. Find hybrid engagement practices that
actually work. Benchmark manager-to-IC ratios against industry norms. Discover
effective upskilling programs from leading companies. Compare DEI strategies at
the team level. Research burnout prevention approaches with cited evidence.
Powered by AI search to find relevant case studies, benchmarks, and expert guidance
that traditional search misses. Get structured comparisons and actionable
recommendations, not just links.
Perfect for managers building business cases, designing programs, or learning
from industry peers.
**Limitations:** Quality depends on publicly available information. Proprietary benchmarks may not be accessible.
## Skills
This skill depends on the following skills. Use these if needed.
**Exa Research**
When: For all web research operations
Follow the instructions in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/skills/research.exa.lookup/SKILL.md`
## Tasks
These are tasks you can execute. Read the task file to get your instructions:
**Research Engagement Practices**
When: User wants hybrid/remote engagement best practices
Follow the instructions in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/recipes/manager.engagement.research.md`
**Benchmark Manager Ratios**
When: User wants to benchmark manager-to-IC ratios
Follow the instructions in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/recipes/manager.ratios.benchmark.md`
**Research Upskilling Programs**
When: User wants to research effective upskilling programs
Follow the instructions in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/recipes/manager.upskilling.research.md`
**Compare DEI Strategies**
When: User wants to compare DEI strategies at team level
Follow the instructions in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/recipes/manager.dei.compare.md`
**Research Burnout Prevention**
When: User wants to research burnout prevention approaches
Follow the instructions in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/recipes/manager.burnout.research.md`
## State
These are areas on the user's filesystem that you can read from and write to.
**Work Overview**
When: Reference company context for relevant comparisons
Use this file: `documents/work/overview.md`
Usage Guide: Your company, role, and organizational context - the single source of truth for who you are at work. Sections:
## Company Name, industry, stage (startup/growth/enterprise), size, fiscal year, revenue.
## Role Your title, department, responsibilities, tenure.
## Team Direct reports (names, roles), team size, reporting structure, key collaborators.
## Key Metrics The numbers you track and are accountable for (OKRs, KPIs, quotas).
## Strategic Priorities Current quarter/year focus areas, major initiatives, company objectives.
## Tools HR systems, analytics platforms, CRM, communication tools you use.
## Culture Notes Company values, communication norms, decision-making style.
## ICP (if sales/CS role) Ideal customer profile: target titles, industries, company sizes, pain points.
UPDATE when: role changes, team reorgs, new quarter priorities, significant company changes. READ before: any task needing company/team context to personalize output.
## Knowledge
This is knowledge you have access to. Read these files if you need additional context:
**Research Guidelines**
When: Core research principles for all outputs
Read the documentation in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/shared.research.guidelines.md`
**Manager Research Guide**
When: Read for research output formats
Read the documentation in: `skills/sauna/manager.research.benchmarks/references/manager.research.guide.md`
