Daily Update
I have a meeting with my team at about 2:30PM every day.
The objective is simple - everyone in the team will tell other what they are doing.
OK, I hear you are saying. Meetings are toxic.
But first, let me tell you what daily update is meant to me (and my team).
1. It is the time for everyone to get together. I can also notice how they look - are they tired? Are they excited on what they are doing?
2. It allows everyone to know the status of projects. Since we usually have multiple projects executing at the same time, so one may learn about the other projects.
3. It provides a platform for everyone to either raise the issue they are having or simply to show off what they have done.
4. Let them know what I am doing. Don't think about if it's of relevant to them, they have the rights to know. Being transparent helps to build the trust.
Asking everyone to drop their work and sit together is costly. But there are some way to reduce the cost.
1. Make it consistent. I used to meet in the morning, before everyone kick start the day, but turns out they come back at different time and thus I moved the meeting to after lunch. With the time fixed, people can allocate their work better to prevent pulling them from the "Zone".
2. Make it short. Usually, 15 min is sufficient and unless there is some complicate issue to discuss. If the issue only of interest to some of the teammate, discuss it after the meeting.
3. Make it causal. You don't want it become a burden for everyone. Apart from the regular update, try to let it be the stage for the team to show off their work! Let them get the satisfaction and applause they deserve.
4. Make your notes! Have a little notebook with you, drop down what the teammate has said, you can mark down the item to follow up on the next day and in the long run, you can review the progress of the project.
So, daily update is a mean of communication. You can disagree having a meeting but you are wrong if you are not communicating with the team. You can pick the most comfortable means (IM, email or even lunch gathering) to achieve this. Just don't get the gesture prevent you from knowing your team (and vice versa).
The objective is simple - everyone in the team will tell other what they are doing.
Is it a waste of time?
OK, I hear you are saying. Meetings are toxic.
But first, let me tell you what daily update is meant to me (and my team).
1. It is the time for everyone to get together. I can also notice how they look - are they tired? Are they excited on what they are doing?
2. It allows everyone to know the status of projects. Since we usually have multiple projects executing at the same time, so one may learn about the other projects.
3. It provides a platform for everyone to either raise the issue they are having or simply to show off what they have done.
4. Let them know what I am doing. Don't think about if it's of relevant to them, they have the rights to know. Being transparent helps to build the trust.
Some tips to reduce the "cost"
Asking everyone to drop their work and sit together is costly. But there are some way to reduce the cost.
1. Make it consistent. I used to meet in the morning, before everyone kick start the day, but turns out they come back at different time and thus I moved the meeting to after lunch. With the time fixed, people can allocate their work better to prevent pulling them from the "Zone".
2. Make it short. Usually, 15 min is sufficient and unless there is some complicate issue to discuss. If the issue only of interest to some of the teammate, discuss it after the meeting.
3. Make it causal. You don't want it become a burden for everyone. Apart from the regular update, try to let it be the stage for the team to show off their work! Let them get the satisfaction and applause they deserve.
4. Make your notes! Have a little notebook with you, drop down what the teammate has said, you can mark down the item to follow up on the next day and in the long run, you can review the progress of the project.
Meeting is only a gesture
So, daily update is a mean of communication. You can disagree having a meeting but you are wrong if you are not communicating with the team. You can pick the most comfortable means (IM, email or even lunch gathering) to achieve this. Just don't get the gesture prevent you from knowing your team (and vice versa).