As remote work continues to be the norm, daily standups have become a crucial part of any team’s workflow. However, it’s easy for these meetings to become repetitive, leading to disengagement and wasted time.
There are several ways to reimagine your daily standups and make them more effective and engaging.
Utilize Shared Calendars & Priorities
The term “standup” comes from the idea that everyone in the meeting should be standing up to encourage brevity and keep the meeting moving quickly. Since the time frame of a daily huddle is limited, usually not exceeding 15 minutes, it can be difficult to cover all essential topics and address concerns or issues adequately.
Therefore, it is recommended that teams utilize tools that enable them to view their teammates’ capacity, to-dos, and priorities asynchronously. Knowing the priorities of each team member can also help in prioritizing tasks and projects, making sure that the most important work is being addressed first.
stratappsaas.com displays teammate capacity and work priorities, to-do’s and calendar events as follows:
Personal priorities, to-do’s and calendar events are removed from this shared view. This insight is powerful for all team members, not only the leaders, allowing the daily standup to focus straight onto what matters and how best to support each other.
Use a Different Format on your Daily Standups
Instead of the traditional round-robin style of sharing where each team member takes turns giving an update, try using a different format that encourages more engagement and collaboration.
For example, one team member shares a specific problem or challenge they’re facing, and the rest of the team provides feedback and suggestions. This approach not only keeps everyone engaged, it also helps build a stronger team dynamic.
Another option is to have team members give updates in pairs or small groups, with each person sharing something they’ve accomplished since the last standup and something they’re planning to work on next. This format encourages more accountability and collaboration, as team members can offer support and feedback to each other in real time.
Discuss Capacity during Daily Standups
Understanding the capacity of each team member can help workload management and ensure that everyone is working on tasks that align with their strengths and skills. This knowledge can also help in identifying when additional resources or support may be needed to complete projects effectively. More so, it answers the question – who needs help the most?
