You get a quick status update of all the bits everyone is working on.<p><pre><code>  Oh, Bob finished the xyz bit? Great I&#x27;ll get started on abc now.
  Jim&#x27;s stuck with the autobuzzulator? I&#x27;ve used those before, I&#x27;ll jump in and give him a hand after the standup.
  Katie&#x27;s not been able to deliver the turnip functionality? Still can&#x27;t test the beets either then...
</code></pre>
It should take no more than a few seconds per person and I find it far more effective than any agile status tool I&#x27;ve used, be that a physical board or an online system.<p>&gt;&gt;  I only find them helpful if some people in the team generally don&#x27;t communicate well what they&#x27;re up to (e.g. during daily work, over lunch).<p>I communicate well with people I&#x27;m working with in the microcosm of what I&#x27;m doing <i>right now</i>, but there may be a few other people on the team doing related tasks that I&#x27;m not talking to every day.<p>And lunchtime is my time to get a few minutes away from screens and work, take a walk, have some food etc.