Old work is a warning.
Items that sit still get more expensive every day. Make blockers and age impossible to ignore.
Mark blockers
Habit 01
A visible tag with the reason and the date it started.
LOOKS LIKE
“Blocked: vendor test env, 3 days.”
Show age
Habit 02
Days in progress on every card, updated daily.
LOOKS LIKE
Old cards stand out.
Swarm the oldest
Habit 03
Walk the board from the right. Oldest items get help first.
LOOKS LIKE
Daily Scrum, right to left.
Learn from blockers
Habit 04
Group blocker reasons monthly and fix the common causes.
LOOKS LIKE
Fix the system, not the card.
Old work is a warning. Act before it's late.