In my last post, I explored how using tools like Miro and intentional introductions can help build camaraderie before your Design Sprint begins. Think of that phase as stretching before a relay race. You’ve sized up the course, you’ve met your teammates, and you’re lacing up your shoes. Now, you might be wondering: what comes next?
Much like running an actual race, you wouldn’t step up to the starting line without knowing the course, having the right gear, and understanding who’s handing off to who. In a Design Sprint, preparation is your pre-race routine. It’s not just a warm-up; it’s what prepares your team for innovation at full speed.
Let’s take a deeper dive into what proper preparation looks like and why it’s a game changer.
Why Preparation Matters: The Competitive Edge
In The Sprint Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Running Innovative Sprints, Pattie Belle Hastings outlines the many benefits of preparing for a Design Sprint:
- Efficiency & Effectiveness: A prepared team accomplishes more in less time, produces higher-quality work, and minimizes delays. Preparation leads to better output because everyone comes ready to contribute.
- Team Dynamics: Clarity with roles and goals boosts morale. When everyone understands the playbook, collaboration flows naturally.
- Stakeholder Relations: Early engagement builds trust and ensures stakeholders feel heard. Their input is built into the process, not added as an afterthought.
- Risk Mitigation: Preparation allows for early problem identification and helps set predefined metrics, so you’re solving the right problems more effectively.
- Long-Term Value: Well-prepared sprints become easier to replicate, scale, and refine. Your team develops a rhythm and learns from each iteration.
The takeaway? Preparation isn’t just about making things run smoothly; it’s about unlocking the full potential of your team and your process.
Building Your Dream Team
Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz, authors of Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days, describe the role of a Sprint team:
“A sprint resembles that perfectly orchestrated heist. You and your team put your talents, time, and energy to their best use, taking on an overwhelming challenge and using your wits to overcome every obstacle that crosses your path.”
To pull off this “heist,” you need the right crew. A sprint team should be small but mighty with seven members or fewer. Each person should bring a unique skillset and perspective. Here are some key roles to fill:
- Decider: The final call-maker. Often a CEO, product manager, or team lead.
- Finance Expert: Knows the budget and where resources come from.
- Marketing Expert: Shapes messaging and brand voice.
- Customer Expert: Brings the user’s voice to the table.
- Tech Expert: Understands feasibility and builds logistics.
- Design Expert: Brings ideas to life through visuals.
Most importantly, ensure everyone knows their role. A well-rounded, cross-functional team makes for a powerful and efficient sprint.
Creating Structure: Rules, Schedules, and Space
Once your team is set, establish a few ground rules. One suggestion? A “No Devices” policy. Encouraging participants to silence phones and limit distractions can help keep focus sharp. If everyone agrees on expectations, it’s easier to stay on track.
Next, block off time. Design Sprints require energy, and fragmented schedules create barriers for momentum. As the authors of Sprint emphasize:
“Sprints require energy and focus, but the team won’t be able to give that effort if they’re stressed out or fatigued.” – Knapp, Zeratsky, & Kowitz
Dedicate six focused hours a day for five consecutive days. This window keeps energy levels high and decision-making tight. A time-boxed format also reduces the chance of getting stuck in the weeds.
Supplies & Tools: Your Sprint-Day Kit
Whether you’re sprinting in-person or virtually, having the right tools is crucial. Hastings and Knapp both recommend purchasing whiteboards, which are great for mapping and collaboration. Securing sticky notes and using colors to sort ideas is a fun and effective way to organize ideas. Who doesn’t love color coding? Timers will keep everyone accountable and help team members stay on track, and moveable furniture encourages physical collaboration and flexibility. Also, don’t forget some healthy snacks to help fuel the brain!
Conducting a virtual Sprint? Platforms like Miro and Google Docs allow participants to edit documents simultaneously, helping the team visualize their work and make decisions in real time. Using quick capture video tools like Loom or Descript will create more visual aids and supercharge productivity.
These tools might seem small, but they support a smooth, distraction-free environment where your team can focus on creating solutions.
Final Prep Steps: Checklists and Communication
Want to know one of the best tips from Hastings? Create a checklist to confirm the essentials:
- Who is the Decider and will make the final decisions?
- What’s the topic or challenge?
- Where and when will the Sprint happen?
- Who’s participating?
Also, don’t overlook the power of communication. As Hastings writes:
“Effective pre-Sprint communication sets the stage for successful outcomes. Your team will appreciate clear, engaging, and informative communication before the Sprint begins…you’ll build a well-organized, focused, and engaged team that’s ready to tackle the challenges ahead.”
Set up a shared, collaborative document with background research, the schedule, and access to all necessary tools. Before the Sprint, hold a debrief meeting to go over expectations, answer questions, and align the team.
What This Looked Like For Me
This week, my team and I had our first virtual meeting in preparation for our Design Sprint challenge. We’re new to this process, so there were a few hiccups, but that’s okay.
We shared backgrounds and skillsets, identified our roles, and created a shared Google Doc and Miro board. These spaces helped us capture ideas, questions, and progress. Most importantly, we fostered an open environment where everyone felt heard. We experimented with templates, asked questions, and embraced the learning process.
Perfect? No. Productive? Absolutely. And that’s the point! Don’t get discouraged if your first session isn’t “perfect.” Buckle up, embrace the imperfect, and enjoy the ride.
Final Thoughts
Here’s your final reminder: Prep. Prep. And more prep. Design Sprints move quickly. If you invest time upfront and choose the right people, set clear expectations, and gather tools, you’ll create an environment for a smooth, creative, and productive experience.
Your Design Sprint is about to begin. Are you ready?
Stick around as I continue documenting this journey. Next up, we take off sprinting!
Christian Schaaf's Blog + Portfolio 