The daily standup is perhaps the most recognizable ceremony observed by modern teams. Maybe that’s part of the problem. People know they’re supposed to be holding standups, but they don’t remember why.

When the reasons behind daily standups get lost, they become status updates. Instead of opportunities to keep everyone aligned behind the constant progress that should be happening, these daily meetings become platforms for people to justify their paychecks to their bosses.

It’s a daily version of government employees emailing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to advocate for their continued employment. Funnily enough, the people who do the least feel compelled to talk the most. The least productive people spend more time thinking about what they’ll say in front of their peers

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