Troubleshooting Nightmarish Daily Scrums

The text provides advice on how to handle two common issues in daily scrum meetings: people who talk too much and people who don’t talk at all. For those who talk too much, suggestions include setting a timer, making time obvious by using a medicine ball, interrupting politely, and using a signal like holding up a stuffed Elmo. For those who don’t talk, suggestions include probing for specifics, returning to the meeting structure, encouraging an order for updates, and reinforcing the purpose of the meeting.

Practical Solutions for Daily Scrum Meetings

Dealing with Overly Talkative Team Members

1. Set a Timer: Use a one-minute timer for each person’s update, but be flexible if someone needs more time.

2. Make the Time Obvious: Have team members hold a medicine ball while giving their update. It gets harder to hold the ball the longer they talk.

3. Interrupt Politely: If someone is rambling, politely interrupt and remind them that everyone needs a chance to speak. Use a parking lot or “Sixteenth Minute” for off-topic discussions.

4. Create a Signal: Use a stuffed Elmo or a virtual Elmo background to signal when someone is talking too long.

Encouraging Participation from Quiet Team Members

1. Probe for Specifics: Ask for specific tasks or progress updates when someone gives a vague update.

2. Return to Structure: Reinforce the structure of the meeting by asking about progress, plans, and problems one at a time.

3. Encourage an Order: Have team members give their updates in a known order, with quiet members going first to alleviate nervousness.

4. Reinforce the Purpose: Remind everyone that daily scrums are synchronization meetings, not status updates. Emphasize the importance of everyone’s contribution.

These practical solutions can help make your daily scrum meetings more productive and purposeful.