The Standup That Was Quiet - Too Quiet
How I spotted a small signal of team fatigue and used it to reset our rhythm.
Jul 1, 2025
Lately I noticed something odd in my team's behaviour. Our daily standups (usually quick, sharp, maybe even a little playful) were getting quieter. Updates got shorter. Fewer follow-up questions. Energy felt… muted.
There wasn’t a crisis. No blockers, mo burnout, but the vibe was off. And I’ve learned not to ignore that.
So I asked the team: “How’s this format working for us right now?”
Turns out, people weren’t tired of the work. They were tired of the cadence. Daily check-ins were starting to feel like a chore - too much structure, not enough value!
So we adjusted.
Switched to 3x/week
Made room for async updates when needed
Reclaimed a little breathing room
The energy bounced back almost immediately. People came in with more to share. Discussions were tighter. And most importantly: no one felt obligated to talk just to fill time. It was a small shift. But it reinforced something I believe deeply: Good leadership isn’t about sticking to structure. It’s about listening to the signals - and being willing to tweak the rhythm so people can do their best work.
Because sometimes the difference between a team that’s “fine” and a team that’s thriving… is just one fewer meeting.
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