In a hybrid work setup, having a daily meeting might not be everyone’s favorite thing. While some team members might enjoy catching up, keeping everyone engaged, focused, and productive can be a bit tricky.
Running a successful stand-up meeting takes some planning and effort. But when done right, stand-ups help keep everyone in the loop and the project moving forward. To help you figure out if a daily stand-up is a good fit for your team, this article talks about what they’re all about, why they’re great, what to watch out for, and gives you some handy tips to make yours a success.
Contents
What is a stand-up?
Daily stand-ups, also known as daily syncs, scrums, or huddles, are a staple of agile methodology. These brief meetings happen every day, where team members share updates on the current project’s status.
Initially, the term “stand-up” was quite literal, with participants standing to keep the meetings brief and to the point. With the rise of remote work, the practice has evolved into more of a daily “sit-down,” but its core purpose remains the same.
What stand-up meetings cover
Daily team status reports ensure that every team member stays informed about the project’s current status and its future direction. Therefore, during stand-up meetings, agile team leaders typically address three key questions
- What did you do yesterday?
- What will you do today?
- What obstacles are impeding your progress?
How to manage remote and hybrid stand-ups
Managing remote and hybrid stand-up meetings requires thoughtful planning and effective communication strategies to ensure that all team members stay engaged and productive. Here are some steps for managing these types of stand-ups.
Running a 15-minute daily scrum meeting sounds straightforward, but these three steps help ensure every stand-up is valuable for everyone involved.
Step 1: Schedule a recurring meeting.
Using your company’s calendar app, create a recurring 15-30 minute event and invite all the stakeholders that should be involved. If you’re working from different time zones, consider sending out a poll to find the best time.
Step 2: Prep in advance.
Everyone should come prepared. So if you’re in charge of the team, review the current project status and revisit notes from past stand-ups.
If you’re not the team leader, consider how you’ll answer the daily scrum questions. That way, you can pay more attention to others during the meeting, and consider how you might support your team.
Step 3: Keep stand-ups casual and engaging.
Foster a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere during stand-up meetings by encouraging active participation from all team members.
→ Explore benefits of daily standup meeting
Conclusion
In conclusion, running effective daily stand-up meetings, especially in hybrid work environments, requires thoughtful planning, adaptability, and clear communication. While some team members may initially find the idea of daily meetings daunting, these brief check-ins play a crucial role in keeping everyone informed, engaged, and focused on project goals.
Daily stand-ups, also known as daily syncs or scrums, provide a valuable opportunity for team members to share updates, identify obstacles, and align on priorities. Despite the shift from physical “stand-up” meetings to more flexible remote or hybrid formats, the core purpose of these gatherings remains consistent—to foster collaboration and drive project momentum.
