What it actually means
I want a meeting but don't want to call it a meeting.
Surface meaning: To meet briefly and exchange status, usually 15 to 30 minutes.
If someone just said “Sync Up” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Manager: Let's sync on this Tuesday.
(Tuesday: 30 minutes of reading each other's status docs.)
How to respond
Reply: 'Happy to. Three questions: 1, 2, 3. Async OK or do you want the call?' Half the syncs collapse into a Slack thread on the spot.
Origin
From version control, around the rise of Agile. Co-opted to make recurring meetings sound technical.
FAQ
What does "Sync Up" actually mean?
I want a meeting but don't want to call it a meeting.
Where did the phrase "Sync Up" come from?
From version control, around the rise of Agile. Co-opted to make recurring meetings sound technical.
How should I respond when someone says "Sync Up"?
Reply: 'Happy to. Three questions: 1, 2, 3. Async OK or do you want the call?' Half the syncs collapse into a Slack thread on the spot.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
Open the simulator →