Combatting Too Many Meetings: Using Agile Mindset as the Solution

One of the most common complaints development teams have about Agile is the sheer number of meetings. This misguided or misunderstood sentiment resonates on Daily Scrum meetings (stand-ups), retrospectives and planning sessions alike. I am sure you have heard it all before — “Do we really need this many meetings?”

Here’s the thing: every Agile meeting — or more accurately, every Scrum event has a purpose.!

These meetings, or “events” all are designed to have a purpose, an outcome. They are not just simply calendar fillers.

Scrum events are designed to serve specific outcomes, ensuring the teams stay aligned, deliver value and improve continuously. When these events are executed correctly, these meetings actually reduce the need for excessive, unstructured, ad-hoc meetings.

So, what is the secret? I believe that is it applying the Agile Mindset.

Scrum Events: Purpose Driven, Not Just Time Driven

Instead of treating meetings as mere obligations that are only ceremonial, teams should — and must — approach them with intention. The intention is being outcome focused. Each and every Scrum ceremony has a purpose, each Scrum event servers a real purpose and a real need.