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Tips for Virtual Daily Scrums

I will discuss Tips for Virtual Daily Scrums in this article Remote work is now common for many Agile teams. This makes virtual Daily Scrums, or standups, vital for teamwork. However, doing your daily Scrum remotely brings unique challenges. Some of those can be, time zone issues and keeping people engaged. Here are practical tips designed to help your remote Daily Scrum be productive and follow Agile principles. To read more about techniques that can help any Daily Scrum please use this article.

Keep it Short

A Daily Scrum should last no more than 15 minutes. In a remote setting, it’s easy to lose track of time. To stay efficient:

• Use a timer to signal when time is up.
• Ask team members to be brief and focus on key updates.
• Move detailed discussions to a separate meeting after the Daily Scrum.
• Encourage team members to come prepared

Encourage Asynchronous updates

Not all updates need to be done in one single meeting. It helps if the team updates their regular activities in an asynchronous manner. Some examples of such updates can be updates via team WhatsApp /slack channel or via the Project Tracking tool like JIRA/Trello or ADO. One point to keep in mind is to share the information only via secured approved channels Some of the benefits can be

• Cater to Different Work Styles and Time Zones
• Provide Context and Detail
• Create a Documented Record of Progress
• Focus Live Standups on Discussion and Problem-Solving
• Offer Flexibility and Choice

Choose the Right Tools

Good collaboration tools help ensure a smooth experience for participants. Consider these areas for tools:

• Video Calls: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.
• Asynchronous Check-ins: Jira status / team slack or MS team channels
• Virtual Collaboration Tools: Miro or MURAL for visual collaboration. Even a shared presentation or sheet works
• Time Zone Coordination: a global calendar

Make sure everyone knows how to use the tools and that they work well.

Set Clear Meeting Rules

Remote meetings can get messy without clear rules. So, set ground rules, such as:

• Turn on cameras for better engagement (if possible).
• Mute mics when not speaking.
• Avoid multitasking during the standup.
• Use hand raising or chat for organized speaking turns.

Respect Time Zones and Cultures

Distributed teams often span different time zones. To address this:

• Rotate meeting times to share the burden.
• Use asynchronous updates for teams in far time zones.
• Foster a culture of empathy and flexibility.

 Keep it Lively

Virtual meetings can be dull. So, keep energy levels high:

• Start with an icebreaker or a fun question.
• Use GIFs or emojis in the chat.
• Celebrate small wins and achievements.

Interactive meetings improve participation and morale.

 Review and Adjust

Continuous improvement is vital for Agile success. Regularly ask the team:

• Is the Daily Scrum working well?
• What changes are needed?
• What improvements can we try?

Gather feedback and try new formats to optimize remote standups. In summary, remote Daily Scrums are crucial for distributed Agile teams. By setting clear rules, using the right tools, and keeping people engaged, teams can make their standups valuable for collaboration. Try these tips, adjust as needed, and keep improving your approach.