My most recent project follows scrum practices. There are some subtle differences compared to Agile development, but it doesn’t take too much getting used to. If you’re anything like me, you appreciate the structure that scrum brings to a team. Daily standups keep us aligned, backlog refinement ensures we’re working on the right things, and regular retrospectives encourage us to improve continually. But, while sticking to Scrum’s framework is essential, sometimes small tweaks can make a noticeable difference in how our team operates.
Over the past few months, a few adjustments we’ve made have had a positive impact on our workflow and team dynamics. Skipping Friday standups, preparing for backlog refinement in advance, and carving out time for casual team socialization and tech catch-ups might sound like minor changes, but they’ve led to some pretty major benefits.
Here’s what we’ve learned.
1. Skipping Friday Standups: A Refreshing Break
Standups are great for keeping everyone on the same page. However, by the time Friday rolls around, they start to feel more like a ritual than a necessity. That’s why we decided to cut our Friday standups. Instead of gathering on Microsoft Teams, we each use that extra time to focus on deeper work, reflect on what we’ve accomplished, and wrap up the week. Don’t get it twisted: we still post a standup update in a Slack thread so we know if there are any blockers or important updates.
What We’ve Noticed:
- Deep work becomes possible. Without the interruption of a morning meeting, I can jump right into coding or solving complex problems. It’s amazing how much more I can get done when I don’t have to switch gears mid-morning especially when the standup meetings can take 30 minutes or more.
- There’s less context switching. Fridays have become my go-to day for tasks that require sustained attention — like debugging or working on a tricky feature. It’s a nice change of pace.
- It’s a mental break. Let’s face it, by the end of the week, all of us are a bit drained. Skipping the standup gives us room to breathe and brings a bit of ease to the day. I’ve found that I start my weekend feeling more relaxed, which makes a big difference when it’s time to dive back in on Monday.
2. Preparing for Backlog Refinement: Getting More Out of Our Meetings
Backlog refinements used to feel a bit rushed. We’d gather, pull up the backlog, and start discussing tickets one by one. It wasn’t bad, but I always felt we could get more out of those sessions if we all had a little more time to prepare. So, our product owner started sending out the list of tickets to be refined a day or two ahead of time.
Here’s How It’s Helped:
- More Thoughtful Conversations. Now that I’ve had the chance to review tickets in advance, I come to the meeting with questions and ideas already formed. It’s led to richer discussions and fewer moments of saying, “I’ll need to think more about that later.”
- Better Estimates. With that extra prep time, we’re able to provide more accurate estimates. We can focus on the conversation instead of trying to decipher the ticket on the spot.
- Quality Refinement. The meeting itself is more productive. We can focus on prioritizing the right work and making sure we’re all on the same page about what’s expected. It feels a lot more strategic than before.
Social Time and Tech Catch-Ups: Staying Connected as a Remote Team
Working remotely has its perks, but it can also be a bit isolating. It’s easy to get lost in your work and forget that there’s a team of people, all working toward the same goals. We’ve addressed this by setting aside dedicated time for casual, non-work conversations as well as tech-focused check-ins.
The Impact:
- Strengthened Team Bonding. We’ve scheduled regular virtual coffee breaks or casual chats, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. These moments of connection have helped foster a sense of camaraderie that’s sometimes lost when you’re not sharing the same physical space. This type of activity is better when more of the team shows up. But, even having a one-on-one conversation can be productive.
- Reduced Isolation. Knowing that I can count on a friendly conversation a couple of times a week has made me feel more connected to my teammates, even if I don’t see them face-to-face.
- Staying Current. We’ve also set up periodic tech catch-ups. These aren’t about lectures; they’re more about making sure everyone is up-to-date on the latest tools, libraries, or practices we’re using. It’s a great way to share knowledge and keep everyone on the same page without the formality of a full-blown training session.
Small Adjustments, Huge Impact
These adjustments might seem small, but they’ve had a huge impact on our workflow and how we feel about our work. Skipping Friday standups has given us the space to focus on deeper tasks and start our weekends with less stress. Preparing for backlog refinement has turned those sessions into something meaningful and efficient. And setting aside time for social interaction and tech catch-ups has made our remote team feel more connected.
In the end, scrum is about continuous improvement — not just in our code, but in how we work together as a team. These tweaks have helped us do just that, and I’m excited to see how else we can refine our process moving forward.