Every agile team is familiar with the concept of daily standups. But have they become more of a monotonous routine rather than a productive exchange? If your daily standups feel like a dull litany of status updates, it’s time to rethink and rejuvenate them. Here’s how.
1. Understand the Purpose
Firstly, it’s crucial to remember the real purpose of a standup. It’s not just a status update meeting; it’s a synchronization point for the team. The focus should be on addressing blockers, strategizing for the day, and fostering communication and collaboration, not just reporting what each person did or will do.
2. Set Clear Expectations
Clarify expectations from the standup – every team member should know the purpose and the outcomes. The three questions – What did you do yesterday? What will you do today? Any impediments or blockers? – should be answered concisely and purposefully.
3. Timebox Strictly
One of the reasons standups become boring is because they drag on. Adhere strictly to the 15-minute timebox. If a topic needs more in-depth discussion, take it offline with relevant members.
4. Mix Up the Format
Shaking up the format occasionally can keep things fresh. For instance, you might try a walk-and-talk standup, or a virtual standup where updates are given via a collaborative tool.
5. Make it Interactive
Encourage team members to ask questions, give kudos to peers, or briefly share learnings from mistakes. This will make the standup more engaging and foster a stronger team culture.
6. Be Flexible
Recognize that standups might not always be necessary. If there are days when the team doesn’t have significant updates or blockers to discuss, consider skipping the standup.
7. Use Tools
In a remote setting, a plethora of tools can help make standups more efficient. Asynchronous standup tools allow team members in different time zones to provide updates at a convenient time, making standups less disruptive.
8. Regularly Retrospect
Periodically evaluate the effectiveness of your standups. Are they helping the team synchronize and unblock? Are they fostering communication? Use this feedback to iterate and improve.
Daily standups, when done right, can be a powerful tool for fostering team alignment and productivity. However, when they devolve into mere status reporting sessions, they can be more of a drain than a benefit. By keeping the focus on collaboration and continuously iterating to keep things fresh, you can ensure your daily standups are a valuable part of your agile practice.
At Complish, we’re committed to helping you navigate the challenges of remote and distributed work. Stay tuned for more insights and tips to help your team work more effectively, wherever they are.