Saturday — Day 7 of the Sprint
A lightweight check-in at the halfway mark. This isn't a status meeting — it's a course-correction opportunity.
The goal is simple: catch problems early so you have time to do something about them.
- Quick progress update from each person
- Identify blockers and offer help
- Adjust scope if needed — it's better to cut scope early than to scramble at the end
This should feel casual and quick. If everything is on track, the touchpoint can be very short.
Ask yourself these before (or during) the check-in:
- Are you on track for your sprint goal?
- Is anything blocked or taking longer than expected?
- Do you need help from anyone?
- Is there scope you should cut now to protect what matters most?
Be honest. Saying "I'm behind" on Day 7 is useful. Saying it on Day 13 is too late.
Halfway through the sprint, you have real data about how the work is going. Use it.
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| On track | Keep going — no changes needed |
| Slightly behind | Cut the lowest-priority task. Focus on the sprint goal |
| Significantly behind | Redefine what "done" looks like for this sprint. Flag it to the team |
| Blocked | Ask for help now. Don't wait and hope it resolves itself |
Cutting scope early is a sign of good judgement, not failure.
- Keep it short. 15–30 minutes max. If there's nothing to discuss, end early
- Focus on blockers, not status. "I'm working on X" is fine, but "I'm stuck on Y" is more useful
- Offer help. If you're ahead and someone else is stuck, this is the moment to step in
- Don't add scope. The mid-sprint is for cutting or adjusting, not piling on new work
- Use async if it works. If the team prefers, this can be a quick message thread instead of a call — whatever gets the information flowing
If the team decides to run this asynchronously, each person posts a short update covering:
- Progress — What's done, what's in flight
- Blockers — Anything stuck or at risk
- Scope changes — Anything you're cutting or rethinking
Post it in the agreed channel by end of Saturday. Read each other's updates and jump in if you can help.
The mid-sprint touchpoint is your early warning system. Use it to steer, not just to report.