Daily Standups: How to Run Them - Agile Coach (2019)
Standups: The Basics
In this section, Megan Cook, Group Product Manager for Jira Software Cloud, introduces standups and explains their purpose and benefits.
What are Standups?
- Standups are 15-minute daily meetings that keep everyone informed and connected throughout the sprint. They are quick check-ins to share successes and plans for the next 24 hours.
- Standups help eliminate other meetings, identify blockers, make quick decisions, and build a shared understanding of what everyone is working on.
- These meetings are typically done in the morning at the same time and place.
Two Common Ways to Run Standups
- Round Robin:
- Each team member takes turns answering three questions:
- What did I work on yesterday?
- What am I working on today?
- What is blocking me?
- Pay attention to your teammates while they speak and encourage others to jump in if someone mentions a blocker.
- Walking the Board:
- The team walks through all the work on their board, discussing who owns each task and if there are any blockers.
- Start with tasks closest to completion and discuss how to collaborate to get them shipped.
Tips for Successful Standups
- Relegate side conversations to after the standup or during the sixteenth minute.
- Walk into each standup prepared with what you're going to say.
- Integrate standups into a larger scrum framework with sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.
- Be open to change and adapt as needed.
Conclusion
Standups are valuable daily meetings that promote communication, collaboration, and productivity within a team. By following best practices such as round robin or walking the board formats, setting clear guidelines for discussions, and integrating standups into a larger scrum framework, teams can maximize their effectiveness and achieve their goals.