Maybe you’ve never heard of them, or perhaps you’ve been trying to make stand-ups work for your team and it’s not going so well. Here are a few tips to enhance collaboration by utilizing effective stand-up meetings.
What is a Stand-up Meeting?
A stand-up is a team meeting that kicks off the beginning of a workday. It should last no longer than 15 minutes. The purpose is to maximize collaboration and productivity.
Here are a few guidelines to get your stand-up routine started:
Set a Time
Pick a time that works best and stick to it. Developing consistent habits for team connection will produce better results, improve relationships, and keep projects moving along. A daily morning stand-up is recommended, but if that is unrealistic for your organization, a weekly or biweekly meeting could do wonders!
Stand Up!
Research shows that standing up shortens meetings by 34% while still producing the same solutions.
The Agenda
Stand in a circle and allow each team member to briefly answer these three questions:
- What did you accomplish since the last meeting?
- What are you working on until the next meeting?
- What is getting in your way or keeping you from doing your job?
Remember, this is not a planning meeting, so keep it short. It is not a micromanaging tool or an opportunity to discuss new ideas or strategy. The human element is the most valuable aspect of this discipline. The intent is to create consistent face-time with your team.
No Devices Allowed
While it might sound harsh, multi-tasking is a myth. Neuroscience research is pretty clear on this. Many people think they can finish an email or scroll their social feed while engaging in a meeting. This just isn’t the case. Often, they end up distracting others as well.
So go talk to your team about adding stand-ups into your team calendar and make room for better collaboration!
