Sprint Planning is one of those meetings that can either set your team up for success…
…or eat two hours of everyone’s time with little to show for it.
After 100+ sprints, especially with remote teams, I landed on an agenda that keeps things tight, focused, and under 90 minutes.
Here it is 👇
Step 1: Align on Value (10–15 min)
Start by answering: “Why is this sprint valuable?”
Without a Sprint Goal, you’ll spend the next hour in random discussions.
Step 2: Select Work (30–40 min)
Review refined backlog items in Zenhub.
Check:
- Is the definition of done clear?
- Are estimates aligned?
- Any dependencies to note?
Commit to just enough work that matches team capacity.
It's great for team morale to have a clean board at the end of the sprint instead of an endless list that is never over.
Remeber, you can always drag in new items if the sprint is done.
Step 3: Sketch the How (30–40 min)
The team decides how they’ll deliver.
Break larger items into smaller tasks if needed.
Don’t over-engineer — just enough clarity to start sprinting.
Step 4: Confirm & Close (5 min)
Restate:
- Sprint Goal
- Selected backlog items
- Confidence level (quick 1–5 poll)
Timebox: 90 Minutes Max
For a 2-week sprint, 90 minutes is more than enough.
If planning takes longer, you probably need backlog refinement mid-sprint.
Wrapping Up 🎯
A clear agenda keeps Sprint Planning from dragging on.
Focus on value, select the right work, sketch the how, and confirm. Done.
💡 To make this easier, I created a Free Scrum Master Checklist that covers Sprint Planning, Dailies, and Retrospectives — so you always walk into meetings prepared.
What’s your team’s biggest pain in Sprint Planning? Drop it in the comments — I might add it to my next checklist 👇
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