Team meetings are a crucial part to the success of any team. They can be a tricky problem to solve because generally you are trying to perform a balance between having fun while focusing on what’s next.
I don’t think team meetings should be overtly structured, but when running them there are always a few goals I need to achieve in each one. And when I speak to those goals, I don’t just mean for me, but more importantly, the members of my team.
What is Everyone Doing
Depending on the size and distribution of your team, it’s entirely possible not everyone knows what everyone else is working on and more importantly where they can be helping each other. This isn’t about your tickets and work items, we have systems that manage this stuff — this is about what you’re working on, where you’re struggling, what ideas you have and where the team can help you out.
Whereas in a delivery or standup meeting we’re focused on output, in the team meeting I’m wanting to hear about what this work does for you — does it challenge you, enrich you, are you learning new skills, is it boring as hell, do you need more? These are the undercurrents I need as your leader to help you get better?
How is Everyone Doing
Some people talk more than others, and they might already be volunteering this information, but others won’t and you need to ask this question. In the What is Everyone Doing you might have picked up on a cue or trigger as to some issue lying under the surface, now is the time to see if it’s an issue not only affecting that person, but everyone in general.
I remember a few team meetings where I would say “yeah the QA team has been pretty rough this week” or “I can’t get any answers from sales the last few months” and then everyone else chimes in and we all have this eureka moment where we go — “I thought they hated me, but it turns out its all of us”. These are the moments that bring your team together, and these are the items you need to take a note on to work on. These are your action items and todos that your team needs you focused on for them to continue being a success.
