· Fixing Your Agility · 1 min read
The Two Word Check-in - Minimally Viable Daily Meeting
Before status, accountability, and conflict resolution — the daily meeting needs to warm up the social fabric. Why a two-word check-in is the most essential part of any standup or daily Scrum.
What a difference through just two words.
Two Words Check-in.
I used it as a warm-up in a leadership session for a Boston-based BioTech.
They liked it so much that they started using it as common practice. They started using it in their weekly Review/Retrospective/Planning sessions (Yes, they were using Scrum to develop the company; go figure)
It became a highlight.
Before you can talk work, accountability, results, and tackle conflicts, you need to maintain / warm up the social fabric.
Here’s an idea -
Instead of talking about what you’re all working on, share how you’re feeling.
Check-in with each other as human beings. (Two words check-in is one great way to do that, but whatever works)
And that’s it. (no 3 questions, no status, nada. Unless people really want to chat about something, or an issue emerges from the check-in)
That’s the most essential aspect of a Daily Scrum/Standup anyhow.
Try it.
Let me know how it went?
About Yuval Yeret
Yuval is a rare practitioner who has shaped the agility path of dozens of organizations and influenced the frameworks used across the industry. He helps product and technology leaders move from agile theater to evidence-informed, outcome-oriented delivery that creates better value sooner, safer, and happier.