Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching Agile teams across industries, from startups to Fortune 500 giants. One thing I’ve noticed is how easily the Daily Scrum can lose its spark when teams stick to the same routine day after day. The traditional three questions are a solid start, but there’s room to experiment and keep things fresh.
The Daily Scrum (aka “The Daily Standup”) is more than just a check-in; it’s an opportunity to reconnect, recalibrate, and refocus as a team. When done well, it can energize the team and create the kind of momentum that carries through the entire sprint. But if we’re not careful, it can become mechanical, leaving team members disengaged and the meeting’s value diminished.
That’s why I encourage teams to shake things up with alternative questions. Small tweaks can lead to big improvements—not just in engagement, but in collaboration, problem-solving, and even the quality of work delivered.
Why Change Matters
The Daily Scrum is a powerful tool for fostering transparency, inspection, and adaptation. But when it becomes repetitive, it’s easy for the team to tune out. By introducing new questions, we create space for reflection, celebration, and innovation. This shift can:
- Reignite interest in the meeting.
- Spark meaningful conversations.
- Highlight learning and growth opportunities.
- Strengthen team collaboration.
The goal isn’t to abandon the purpose of the Daily Scrum but to enrich it by keeping it relevant and engaging.
Alternative Questions to Explore
Through trial, error, and plenty of iterations, I’ve found that asking the right questions can make all the difference. Here are a few that have worked well in practice:
- What was your biggest win since our last meeting?
- Is there a recent learning you’d like to share with the team?
- What’s your most important task today, and why?
- Are there any blockers slowing you down?
- How can we work better together today?
- Where could you use support or feedback?
- What’s one area of our project or process that could improve?
- How confident are you in meeting our sprint goal, on a scale of 1-10?
These questions aren’t just about checking progress—they’re about creating a space for reflection and connection.
Lessons From the Field
I worked with a team at a financial institution that had been using the standard three questions for over a year. The meetings had become predictable, and engagement was low. We decided to try something different, starting with, “What was your biggest win since our last meeting?” The effect was immediate. Team members started celebrating each other’s successes, and their energy during the meeting shifted.
Within a few sprints, the results were undeniable. Collaboration improved, blockers were addressed more quickly, and the team saw a measurable boost in sprint velocity. The Product Owner even noted an uptick in the quality of deliverables. Sometimes, small changes lead to meaningful results.
How to Get Started
If you’re ready to breathe new life into your Daily Scrum, here are a few tips for success:
- Start Small: Introduce one new question at a time and see how the team responds.
- Ask for Input: Invite team members to suggest questions. When they’re involved, they’re more likely to engage.
- Stay Flexible: Adjust the questions to fit your team’s needs and project stage.
- Rotate Regularly: Avoid monotony by cycling through a set of questions.
- Stick to the Timebox: Keep responses concise to respect the 15-minute limit.
The goal is to enhance the meeting, not complicate it. Keep things simple and focused.
Embracing Continuous Improvement
The Daily Scrum is a reflection of your team’s ability to adapt and improve. By introducing new questions, you’re not just revitalizing a meeting—you’re cultivating a mindset of curiosity, openness, and growth. And in my experience, teams that embrace this kind of evolution consistently outperform those that don’t.
If you’re ready to refresh your approach, I encourage you to experiment with these questions. Stay curious, keep learning, and watch as your team’s engagement and productivity reach new heights.
Let me know if you try this—I’d love to hear about your results!
