To perform the virtual daily standup refresh play, here's what you'll need;
A team or squad that is meeting for 15 minutes a day, to share their progress towards their common goal
Ask this team -
- Are you tired of answering the same questions every day?
- Are you finding your standups have become a little stale?
Invite them to experiment alternative questions
What will I do to delight my customers today? - Keeping the team anchored to the 1st principle of the agile manifesto, customer centricity
What will I do to help my team achieve our goals today? - Focusing the team on aiding each other to achieve their common goal
What will I do to make my product / team more resilient? - This reminds the team about removing technical debt incrementally and building a robust product
What will I do to further my learning today? - A focus on personal development
Invite them to experiment with alternative approaches
Have the last person to speak nominate the next person - This prevents it feeling like any one person is requesting the status from another. If using Microsoft Teams or Zoom, suggest the team puts their hand up, to signify that they have already spoken
Rotate each week who selects the questions to be answered in the coming week - This keeps things interesting and different as each person may have a different style
Have a visual / audible way of indicating if someone is rambling such as an 'ELMO' gif, (Enough, Let's Move On), or a buzzer noise - This can promote healthy conflict and holding each other accountable for keeping the standup on track in a fun way
Experiment with some alternatives and let me know how you get on!
What approaches do you use to keep your virtual stand ups interesting?
Remember, the outcome of a daily standup is to transparently share your progress as a team towards your common goals. It isn't intended to be a status meeting.