Template

Daily Standup Template

A standup is a sync, not a status report. This template keeps each person to three lines and pushes real discussion into the parking lot so the meeting ends on time.

When to use this template

  • • Daily or three-times-weekly team syncs on active work.
  • • Async standups posted in a shared channel.
  • • Short-term war rooms during an incident or launch week.

The template

**Team:** [Name]
**Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD]
**Facilitator:** [Name]
**Present:** [Names]

**Updates**
[Name]
  Done: [completed since last standup]
  Next: [today's focus]
  Blocked: [blocker or "none"]

[Name]
  Done:
  Next:
  Blocked:

**Blockers to resolve**
- [Blocker] — Owner: [name] — Needs: [person/decision] — By: [date]

**Parking lot (discuss after standup)**
- [Topic] — Who needs to be there: [names]

**Action items**
- [ ] Owner — Task — Due date

Copy the block above and paste it into your notes app.

Filled-in example

**Team:** Payments squad
**Date:** 2026-05-12
**Facilitator:** Rosa
**Present:** Rosa, Jaden, Amir, Tessa

**Updates**
Jaden
  Done: Refund endpoint merged.
  Next: Retry logic for failed webhooks.
  Blocked: none

Amir
  Done: Sandbox test suite green.
  Next: Currency rounding bug.
  Blocked: Needs finance sign-off on rounding rule.

Tessa
  Done: Dashboard chart fix.
  Next: Invoice PDF layout.
  Blocked: none

**Blockers to resolve**
- Rounding rule undecided — Owner: Amir — Needs: Finance (Dana) — By: May 13

**Parking lot (discuss after standup)**
- Webhook retry backoff strategy — Rosa, Jaden

**Action items**
- [ ] Rosa — Book 15 min with Dana on rounding — May 12

Tips that make it work

  • • Timebox to fifteen minutes and end on time even if someone hasn't spoken.
  • • Say blockers out loud even when they feel small — that is the point of the meeting.
  • • Move any two-person debate to the parking lot immediately.
  • • Rotate the facilitator so no one owns the meeting permanently.

FAQ

How long should a daily standup be?

Fifteen minutes maximum, regardless of team size. Anything longer means a discussion escaped into the standup and should move to a follow-up.

What are the three standup questions?

What did I finish since the last standup, what am I working on next, and what is blocking me. Everything else is a parking-lot item.

Can standups be async?

Yes. Post the same three answers in a shared channel at a fixed time, and open a short live call only when a blocker needs several people.

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