Home > Tactics > Donor Obsession > Daily Lineup/Standup
Problem: Without regular check-ins, team members may feel out of sync and miss important updates.
Solution: Hold a short daily meeting where everyone shares their progress and any challenges, keeping the team connected and on track.
Introduction:
Daily standups/lineups are vital for fostering team alignment, accountability, and agility in pursuing shared goals. By checking in regularly, team members stay informed of each other’s progress, quickly identifying and addressing any obstacles that may hinder progress. This practice not only enhances communication but also empowers individuals to take ownership of their contributions, creating a collaborative and supportive environment. The brevity and structure of the standup encourage focused updates, keeping everyone synchronized without consuming excessive time.
Tools:
- Repetition of Values: Standups should begin by revisiting core values and mission statements to reinforce the organizational culture.
- Use a shared vocabulary that reflects organizational values, especially good if it’s “insider” vocabulary.
- Share real-life examples of employees embodying organizational values, ideally through stories of outstanding service.
- Allowing employees to connect and align on the day’s priorities without the impersonal barrier of email or messaging apps.
- Leaders should actively participate in daily lineups to demonstrate commitment to the practice.
- Hold the standup at the same time every day to create a rhythm, ensuring that all team members are present. The goal is to establish a regular cadence or "heartbeat" for the team.
- Keep the meeting under 15 minutes. It should be a quick, direct check-in, allowing any additional discussions to happen outside of this time.
- Everyone in the standup should actively contribute. To encourage this, team members stand up to promote engagement and prevent the meeting from dragging on.
- Three Essential Questions: Each team member answers three core questions:
- What did you do yesterday to help the team finish?
- What will you do today to help the team finish?
- Are there any obstacles preventing you or the team from achieving your goal?
- Use the standup as an opportunity for team members to address issues together. If someone faces a problem, another team member might offer to help, fostering a supportive team environment.
- Use the standup to celebrate extraordinary service moments shared by employees, reinforcing the importance of going above and beyond.