Best Practices

Effective standups keep teams aligned and productive. Here are proven practices to make your standups more valuable and engaging.

Meeting Structure

Keep It Short

• 15 minutes maximum - Respect everyone's time
• Stick to the agenda - Avoid deep discussions
• Time-box updates - 1-2 minutes per person
• Use a timer - Keep everyone on track

Clear Format

• What I worked on yesterday
• What I'm working on today
• Any blockers or challenges

Participation Guidelines

Preparation

• Quickly review your status update before the meeting
• Prepare your blockers - be specific about what you need

During the Meeting

• Be concise - focus on key points
• Listen actively - pay attention to others
• Offer help - if you can assist with blockers
• Stay engaged - avoid distractions

Team Dynamics

Facilitation

• Rotate facilitators - share the responsibility
• Encourage participation - make space for quieter team members
• Address blockers quickly - schedule follow-ups if needed
• Celebrate wins - acknowledge achievements

Remote Considerations

• Mute when not speaking - reduce background noise
• Use chat for quick questions - avoid interrupting
• Screen share when helpful - show relevant information

Common Pitfalls

What to Avoid

• Status reports to managers - this is for the team
• Deep technical discussions - schedule separate meetings
• Problem-solving sessions - focus on awareness, not solutions

Red Flags

• Meetings running long - indicates poor time management
• Low participation - may signal disengagement
• Repetitive updates - suggests unclear goals
• Blocker escalation - indicates process issues

Continuous Improvement

Regular Retrospectives

• Monthly reviews - assess what's working
• Team feedback - gather input on format and timing
• Process adjustments - adapt based on team needs
• Success metrics - track engagement and outcomes

Adaptation

• Team size changes - adjust format for larger teams or break up the teams
• Remote work - optimize for virtual collaboration