How to run a daily standup
The short answer
Keep the standup to 15 minutes at the same time every day. Each person shares progress toward the team's goal, what's next and any blockers. Don't solve problems in the meeting: note them and have the right people meet straight after. End on time, with blockers owned.
Step by step
- 1
Fix the time and length
Same time daily, 15 minutes, start on time even if someone is late.
- 2
Focus on the goal
Talk about progress toward the sprint or team goal, not a list of tasks.
- 3
Surface blockers
Every blocker gets an owner who will help remove it.
- 4
Park discussions
When a topic needs more than a minute, note it and continue after the standup with the people involved.
- 5
Rotate the facilitator
Sharing the role keeps everyone engaged.
Common mistakes
- Reporting to the manager instead of to the team.
- Solving problems in the standup.
- Letting it run past 15 minutes.
Acta records the standup and turns blockers and follow-ups into action items with owners.
Try Acta free for 15 daysQuestions
What are the three standup questions?
What did I do yesterday, what will I do today, and what is blocking me. Many teams now frame them around the team goal instead.
Can a standup be done asynchronously?
Yes. Written updates work well for distributed teams; meet only to clear blockers.