I have seen some great daily stand-ups, and I have seen some horrible ones where no-one is really committed and it’s a chore to attend. The difference is not really the person running it, but the mindset of the team.
Everyone at work is part of a team, but are they really team members?
Everyone at work is part of a team, but are they really team members?. In other words, are you like a close family, or more like a neighbour?
A neighbour might say “Hi” whenever you meet, and if they talk about what they have done on the weekend, they may give some non-committal answer about mowing the lawns.
are you like a close family, or more like a neighbour?
but in a great family you care what happens, you help out with your turn at the dishes and you know what your family is doing and has done. Whenever your family gets together you can’t wait to tell everyone what you did and what you’re planning to do next. You do that because you know that your close family will be involved and will want to know what you have been up to. There is trust, true interest, and involvement – and yes, a little bit of poking fun as well.
This is the same with a great close team. You can’t wait to tell everyone in the daily stand-up how you resolved that particularly tricky “thing” that you did yesterday, how you went into battle with that task and finally came out victorious. You tell them all what you are planning for today. You’re also really interested in what others are doing and might even want to help where you have expertise or experience – or just give some advise if you are neither.
Do we need to trial a bit of pair-work for our tasks?
So how are your Standups? A chore that you have to do, or something you look forward to? If it’s a chore and boring, then you might be lacking in trust. Bring it up at the retro and ask why are stand-ups boring? Are we lacking in trust? Are we not working closely with each other? Do we need to trial a bit of pair-work for our tasks? Do we truly know what our team members are working on? Do they need, or would they enjoy a little help?