Are you feeling conflicted? Not sure which stand-ups you need to attend and which you can skip? Just look to the 11th Agile Principle: “Self-Governing Teams Work Best!” If you are on multiple product teams you should not feel obligated to attend every single stand-up. Here are some guidelines to help you prioritize:
DO attend a stand-up when
- It is your primary team (If you report through the Finance and Compliance team you should attend that stand-up regularly.)
- You have a story that is ready to move from one column to another.
- You have a story that is blocking someone else’s work.
- You need an update from someone with a story that is blocking your work.
- You have an update that is important for the rest of the team to hear.
- The project lead specifically asked you to be there.
DON’T attend a stand-up when
- You don’t have any stories on the Minimum Board of Agile (MBA.)
- You are not moving a story to another column.
- You do not have any blockers, and you are not blocking anyone else.
Communication is the key to every successful team, so speak with the team lead about when they need you at a stand-up and when you can skip it.
If the meetings become counter-productive remember Agile Principle #12: “Reflect, Adjust, Repeat.”
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