Mastering Daily Standups: Common Mistakes and Best Practices

What is a daily standup?

Daily Standups or stand-up meetings are those quick catch-up meetings teams have, especially in agile projects? Yeah, those are daily standups. Picture this: everyone gathers, takes about 15 minutes, and shares what they've been up to and what's up next. It's like a team huddle in sports, where you swap strategies and plan the next moves.

Daily standups are like a key part of scrum, a method for managing projects. They're all about staying flexible and organized, so teams can roll with the punches and get stuff done efficiently. Moreover, they show how scrum teams can handle things on their own, which is pretty cool.

How to run a daily standup?‍

Don't underestimate daily standups — they're super important for keeping scrum teams on track. But hey, it's easy to get stuck in a rut of boring updates.

So, who's in on these standups? Well, it's mainly the scrum team. Your development crew and scrum master are always there, but product owners are optional. It's all about teammates chatting with each other — anyone from the team can lead the meeting. And remember, scrum masters are more like team helpers than bosses.

Once the meeting kicks off, everyone on the development team takes turns answering three questions:

1. What did you do yesterday?
2. What's on your plate today?
3. Any roadblocks in your way?

To keep things snappy, it helps to have a system. Check out these ideas:

• Popcorn: Each person picks the next to speak. Perfect for teams working from different places.
• Round robin: Go around the group one by one.
• Token: Pass an object around and whoever's holding it talks.
• Cards: Everyone grabs a numbered card and speaks in order.
• Walk the board: Instead of talking people, talk tasks on your board from nearly done to brand new.

Benefits of Daily Standups‍

Short as they are, standup meetings pack a punch when it comes to boosting your team. Here's why:

1. Better chats: Just by answering those three standup questions, teams get really good at sharing important info quickly and making sure everyone's on the same page. And doing it every day keeps things transparent, so everyone knows what's up without having to bug each other all the time.
2. Team vibes: Spending a few minutes together daily is like a team bonding session. Standups make sure everyone knows what we're aiming for, what's already done, and what's next on the agenda.
3. Spotting issues ASAP: That last question about what's blocking you? It's gold for catching problems early. Whether it's a snag in the plan or something slowing you down, talking about it now saves big headaches later.
4. Happy vibes: Standups aren't just about work, they're about feeling good too. They pump up the team spirit, making everyone feel like they're part of something awesome. Plus, they're a chance to give props to each other for a job well done.

Most Common Mistakes and best practices

1. Playing the Status Game: Sometimes, standups turn into just listing what you did, almost like reporting to the boss. Keep it chill and talk to your teammates instead. Focus on the team's goals, not just ticking off tasks.

2. Running Late: Time flies in these meetings, so starting on time is key. Missing even a few minutes adds up. Instead of getting mad at latecomers, chat about how it affects the team. Ask everyone how they'll make sure we're all on time next round.

3. Turning it into a Hangout: Sure, it's nice to catch up, but standups aren't hangout time. If you're leading, gently steer everyone back on track if they start chatting too much.

4. Rambling On: Keep your updates short and sweet. It's easy to dive deep into details, but stick to the point. Scrum masters can help by setting a template that keeps things focused.

5. Hiding Roadblocks: Not everyone feels comfy sharing problems in a big group. Build trust outside of standups, maybe in one-on-one chats or group messages. And remember, the sooner we talk about issues, the quicker we can fix them.

1. Solving Everything Now: We're all good at fixing things, but standups aren't for that. Flag problems, but save the brainstorming for later. Let's keep the meeting snappy.