The daily standup is a staple of engineering teams — and easy to do badly. Running or contributing to one clearly in English keeps it fast and useful. Here's how.
The three questions
Keep it simple: what you did since yesterday, what you're doing today, and what's blocking you. Answering these three briefly is the whole standup. Rambling beyond them is what makes standups drag.
Be brief and specific
'Yesterday I finished the login API; today I'm on the payment flow; I'm blocked on the staging credentials.' Specific and short. Standups reward clarity and respect for everyone's time.
Take deep dives offline
Frequently asked questions
How do I run a good engineering standup?
Answer three questions briefly — what you did, what's next, what's blocking you — and take deep dives offline.
How long should a standup answer be?
Short and specific — a sentence or two per question.
What if something needs discussion?
Note it and take it offline with the relevant people after standup.
How can I improve my tech English?
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