TellieFree script template
A daily standup script that stays short
Three sections, one of them must-cover. Skip the last one on purpose and watch Tellie notice.
minutes: 2 # The Monday standup ## What shipped [smile] Only the things a customer can **actually** touch. If it is not in front of someone outside this room, it did not ship, it moved. ## What is stuck Name the thing *and* the person who can unblock it. [pause] If nobody in the room can, say that out loud too. ## ! What I need from you > key: what I need, blocked on This is the section everyone runs out of time for, so it is the one marked must-cover. Its anchor is two phrases separated by a comma: say either one, anywhere, and the section counts as covered. That is how you write an anchor for a point you might phrase either way.
Nothing happened? Then Tellie is not on this Mac yet. It is a free download, and this script will open straight into it once it is.
About this template
Most standups run long because the one thing that matters comes last. This template puts the update on a two-minute clock in three short sections, and marks the ask so it can’t get skipped.
How to make it yours
- Open it in Tellie or save it as a .md file, then rewrite the words in your own voice.
- Keep the marks. A heading that starts with
## !is must-cover, and it turns green as you cover it. - After
> key:, list the phrases you would naturally say, separated by commas. Say any one of them and the point checks off, even in your own words. minutes:sets your time budget, so Tellie can give you a heads-up while there is still time to cover everything.
Questions
What should a daily standup update include?
Three things: what shipped, what is stuck, and what you need from the team. This template keeps each one to a couple of sentences, so the whole update fits in about two minutes.
Can I use this script without Tellie?
Yes. Save it as a .md file and read it anywhere. In Tellie, the marked section turns green as you cover it, and the ask checks off when you say it.