Why Daily Standups Might Be Better Than Kanban Boards

Why Daily Standups Might Be Better Than Kanban Boards

Kanban boards are everywhere. Every project management tool pushes them. But are they always the best solution, especially for small indie game development teams?

Many indie developers get bogged down trying to manage their Kanban boards, spending more time moving virtual cards than actually making progress on their game. Real-time communication suffers. Team members feel isolated. Scope creep runs rampant.

The Case for Daily Standups

Daily standups, when done right, can be a game-changer. Forget endless streams of tickets. Think focused communication and rapid problem-solving.

Here’s why daily standups can outperform Kanban boards in the trenches of game development:

• Improved Communication: Standups force everyone to talk, share, and stay on the same page.
• Early Problem Detection: Identify roadblocks before they become project-killing delays.
• Increased Accountability: Publicly commit to your goals.
• Stronger Team Cohesion: Daily interaction builds trust and camaraderie.
• Aligned Project Vision: Constant check-ins keep the overall vision top of mind.

Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Game Dev Standups

Standups don’t have to be a painful waste of time. Here’s a simple framework to make them effective.

Preparation

Before the standup, everyone should prepare answers to these key questions:

• What did I accomplish yesterday?
• What am I working on today?
• What’s blocking my progress?

Structure and Format

• Round-robin format: Each team member answers the questions in turn.
• Time-boxed: Keep the entire standup to 15 minutes or less.
• Voice or video calls: Essential for remote teams to foster real human connection.

Focus on Problem-Solving

Standups are for identifying problems, not solving them in the meeting. Schedule separate, focused sessions to tackle complex issues.

Action Items and Follow-Up

Assign clear action items to individuals. Track progress diligently. Link standup outcomes to your project management tools and milestones.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Steer clear of these standup killers.

• Overly long standups: Respect everyone’s time.
• Going off-topic: Stay focused on the core questions.
• Turning into status reports: Keep it concise and action-oriented.
• Not addressing blockers promptly: Remove obstacles immediately.
• Lack of clear action items: Vague tasks lead to inaction.

Daily Stand Ups Lead to Personal Accountability

This consistent structure drives personal accountability. You’re publicly stating your goals and progress (or lack thereof). This helps you stay focused and motivated.

This constant reflection also allows you to catch scope creep and adjust milestones. By tracking your progress and problems you encounter, you can improve your game development process over time.

To do this effectively, you’ll want to track your goals and reflect on your progress daily. A journal is a great way to do this, especially a game dev journal.

Using a journal lets you track personal goals, document observations, and work through problems. A dedicated place to reflect on your progress is invaluable to game development, so check out our journaling tool and learn more about leveling up your productivity: Track Your Progress With a Dedicated Journal