If you’ve ever run a standup, you know the script: “What did you do yesterday?” “What are you doing today?” “What’s blocking you?” That first question is the time sink. It pulls the room backward and pads updates that should be crisp. It’s time to stop asking yesterday in standups.

Why yesterday doesn’t matter

Yesterday’s work already lives in Jira, Notion, or Slack. Rehashing it in a live sync burns attention and slows momentum. Standups should face forward—alignment for today, clarity on what’s next, and visibility on blockers. In a Popcorn Style rhythm, your team gets the benefit of hearing each other without the archaeology lesson.

What to ask instead

Make your prompt two-part and future-facing: what are you doing today, and what, if anything, is in your way? That’s the core. Everything else belongs in your project tools or a follow-up thread. When you run this format with Popcorn Style, the timebox nudges people to be specific and actionable.

A better flow

Keep each person to ~30 seconds and rotate the order so no one zones out. If a tangent starts, “Voldemort” it to a parking lot and move on; offer a quick breakout or async follow-up after the standup. Because Popcorn Style randomizes who goes next and enforces the clock, you’ll feel the difference immediately—fewer rambling recaps, more present-tense progress.

The takeaway

Standups aren’t for reporting the past; they’re for unlocking the present. Drop the yesterday question, keep it short, and watch engagement rise. Your team will leave with energy, not eye-rolls—and you’ll get real time back on the calendar.