As a software engineering manager, I've observed firsthand the impact of having product owners (POs) and product managers (PMs) actively participate in our daily standups. How does it help? This simple yet effective practice can bridge communication gaps, align priorities, and foster a deeper sense of collaboration within the team. Here's why encouraging PO and PM attendance at standups is beneficial and how to make it meaningful for everyone involved.
Enhancing Communication and Alignment
-
Real-Time Updates: Daily standups provide a platform for immediate updates on progress, blockers, and priorities. When POs and PMs are present, they receive real-time information about the development process, which helps in making informed decisions quickly. They also get informed early and short circuit the need to have another status update meeting or handle notification in some other asynchronous manner.
-
Clearer Understanding of Requirements: Direct interaction with the engineering team allows POs and PMs to clarify requirements and provide immediate feedback. This reduces misunderstandings and ensures that the team is aligned with the product vision.
-
Prioritization and Focus: POs and PMs can offer insights into shifting priorities based on market demands or business needs. Their presence helps ensure that the team is always working on the most critical tasks, aligning development efforts with strategic goals.
-
Faster Resolution of Blockers: When POs and PMs attend standups, they can quickly address any blockers that require their input, speeding up the resolution process and minimizing downtime for the engineering team.
Encouraging Attendance and Making Standups Meaningful
As an engineering manager, it's crucial to foster an environment where POs and PMs see the value in attending daily standups. Here are some strategies I like to encourage their participation and make these meetings productive for everyone:
-
Highlight the Benefits: Explain the advantages of their attendance, emphasizing how their presence can help streamline processes, reduce delays, and improve overall product quality. Show them the positive impact their involvement has on the team's efficiency and morale.
-
Schedule Flexibility: Ensure that standup times are convenient for all participants. If necessary, adjust the schedule to accommodate the availability of POs and PMs, demonstrating that their presence is valued and prioritized.
-
Set Clear Expectations: Define the purpose and format of the standup clearly. Make sure everyone understands that the standup is a brief, focused meeting aimed at sharing updates, identifying blockers, and aligning on priorities.
-
Facilitate Effective Communication: Coach the engineering team to provide concise and relevant updates. Encourage them to focus on what was accomplished, what is planned for the day, and any impediments that need attention. Explain how engineers can talk about 'value added' by the work that they are doing rather than just ticket or task numbers. This ensures that the information shared is valuable to the POs and PMs.
-
Create an Inclusive Atmosphere: Foster a culture of openness and respect. Encourage team members to ask questions and seek clarifications. Ensure that POs and PMs feel welcome to contribute their insights and feedback during the standup.
-
Follow-Up on Action Items: Make sure that any action items or blockers raised during the standup are addressed promptly. This demonstrates that the standup is a productive meeting where issues are resolved efficiently, reinforcing its importance to POs and PMs.
Coaching the Engineering Team
To make standups meaningful for POs and PMs, it's essential to coach the engineering team on effective communication and collaboration practices:
-
Encourage Transparency: Promote a culture where team members feel comfortable sharing both their achievements and challenges. Transparency builds trust and ensures that everyone is on the same page.
-
Emphasize the Bigger Picture: Remind the team of the product vision and how their work contributes to it. This helps them understand the importance of their updates and fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility.
-
Focus on Problem-Solving: Encourage the team to approach blockers with a problem-solving mindset. Instead of merely reporting issues, prompt them to suggest potential solutions or seek input from POs and PMs. Instead of saying "here's the problem" couple that with the follow on of "here's a proposed solution".
-
Foster Collaboration: Highlight the collaborative nature of standups. Encourage team members to see POs and PMs as partners in the development process, working together towards a common goal.
Conclusion
Having product owners and product managers attend daily standups can significantly enhance the communication, alignment, and efficiency of engineering teams.
As a software engineering manager, you play a crucial role in encouraging their participation and making these meetings meaningful. By fostering a culture of transparency, collaboration, and problem-solving, you can ensure that standups are valuable for everyone involved, ultimately leading to a more cohesive and productive team.