The dreaded standup meeting! Cross-functional standups can easily spiral into update overload or vague hand-waving. Here’s how to make them sharper, faster, and actually useful:
-
start with an agenda
agendas are meeting gold-dust. They allow everyone to prepare thoughts by checking the agenda beforehand and keep the standup structured and time sensitive. -
structure by outcomes, not departments
group updates by goal or OKR theme, not by team. This shows how work connects and surfaces dependencies early. -
keep it tight
limit each speaker to 2 minute monologues. Encourage async written updates beforehand to save time and let the live call focus on blockers, asks, and decisions. -
surface blockers boldly
create space where people feel safe to say “I’m stuck” or “I need help from X team.” That’s where standups earn their value. -
end with clear follow-ups
wrap with action items, who owns them, and what’s due by next week. No fuzz.
optional bonus: rotate who hosts each week to keep things fresh and build shared ownership.