Having a standard set of templates ensures clear team communication and saves everyone time. Essential templates every team needs include:

• Bug reports (issue details, severity, steps to reproduce, environment)
• Feature requests (user need, proposed solution, success metrics, priority level)
• Design handoffs (specs, assets, interactions)
• Code review requests (changes made, testing notes, areas of concern)
• Sprint updates (progress, blockers, next steps)
• Project briefs (goals, timeline, requirements)
• Meeting notes (decisions, action items, owners)
• Documentation updates (what changed, why, impact)

Each template should capture necessary information without creating extra work. For example, a feature request template needs only: the user need, proposed solution, success metrics, and priority level. Anything more risks reducing template adoption.

Start with basic templates and refine them based on team feedback. If people skip sections or add new ones consistently, adjust your templates to match real usage patterns.