Life’s Daily Standup
In the Agile software development world, there is a common practice among development teams called the daily standup. At a set time each day, everyone involved in the project gathers in a common area where they hold a mini meeting. It is called the standup because you are required to stand. This keeps the meeting short and focused.
When this technique was first described in Agile literature, 3 pieces of information were suggested to be reported on by each person on the team during the standup; what was completed yesterday, what is being worked on today, and what obstacles are hindering progress.
Ever since that structure was suggested, Agile team members around the world have been performing their stand ups like robots. Reciting their answers to the questions and getting absolutely no value. The questions, and the answers to the questions, are not the point. The point of the daily standup is to inspect and adapt. That is, each day get everyone together, look around, ask whatever questions make sense, and make small adjustments as needed. It’s these small daily adjustments that make projects successful.
In our culture, we spread our personal review periods out a bit. We call it the New Year’s Resolution. Once a year we inspect and adapt (or maybe just inspect). Once a year we say we are going to change something huge; quit smoking, exercise more, or spend more time with family. While some are successful at making these huge shifts in behavior, most are not.
What if we were to take the daily stand up practice from Agile and apply it to our personal lives? Take a few minutes each day to inspect and adapt. Making micro changes in behavior based on what happened the day before and how it could be made better today; smoke 1 less cigarette today, take the stairs when I get to work, or call mom. The results could be staggering.
So, I challenge you to make your New Year resolution to have 365 daily stand ups, where you inspect and adapt. Make 365 micro changes, instead on 1 or 2 giant ones. I believe you will be more successful.
Feb 01, 2009
It’s never too late to learn something from my son the businessman. I like the “stand up” concept and think I’ll take the challenge to inspect and adapt daily (or at least weekly!), and use it to insure my student assistants have the resources they need to do their work and to insure proper progress.
Jun 18, 2009
I won’t tell you how I landed on this page–well, it’s just on my way to searching for refresher basics on agile or clear or lean or whatever. But this fits in with good processes we’re trying to introduce at the office here at Icon (Remodeling). I will tell them that that 365 New Year’s resolutions are agile DOGMA for every work/life project, and to get cracking.
Seriously, this is a really good idea and the incremental value approach will obviously work better.
Someone has asked me where to go to learn about agile. Any website suggestions with the basics?
Thanks.
Francine