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Need some pep in your (company culture’s) step?

It’s hard to imagine that in today’s connected environment, companies still find themselves lacking cohesion. The old “the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing” is not as outdated as it might seem. But more and more organizations are discovering one of the most powerful tools for keeping their team in sync: the daily huddle.

What’s the huddle all about anyway?

Football teams have been doing it forever and now businesses are jumping in on the action. Huddles are quick but highly effective micro meetings that touch on daily goals (at the company AND individual level), boost morale, and ultimately improve employee productivity. The concept of the daily huddle has been emerging for quite a while. If you haven’t already implemented the meeting into your office, now may be the perfect opportunity to get started. Here’s how to get your team involved:

Keep it short, sweet & to the point

Some companies set the huddle time at ten minutes, others fifteen, depending on how many employees are participating. The idea is to keep the meet short and sweet; with each person taking the exact same amount of time to speak and discuss anything that needs to be addressed.

Like clockwork

The huddle starts at the same time each day. For some companies, the best time to meet is first thing in the morning. Others may find it best after lunch – whatever works for you and your team is best. You can include team leaders, department heads, or everyone in the company. Even employees who work offsite can call in to a conference line to get involved.

Same spiel

The beauty of the huddle is that everyone sticks to the same agenda, covering the same topics as they relate to them and their position. The outlined schedule limits straying topics, wasted time, and tangents.

The agenda is also entirely up to you and your needs. But the key is that each person goes down the list and gives their update. A common agenda may look like this:

• What’s up: What’s happened in the last 24 hours (or since the last huddle)
• Goals: Each member of the huddle discusses their individual goals and/or target for the day
• Roadblocks, support, or extra effort needed: Stuck somewhere? Need some help? Each huddler should share any work-related speed bumps that they’re having a tough time overcoming. This is where each person has the opportunity to ask for a helping hand.
• Policy or projects: The huddle is an excellent time to inform team members of changes coming through the pipeline.
• Values or shout-outs: This is the time where team members can give a shout out to their co-workers or managers for being an extra help, for accomplishing something new, or simply for being awesome!
• One thing: What’s the one thing you need to focus on today that will make the most impact?

So why do they work?

Huddles bring people together for a common purpose. Teams that huddle have a “we” mentality and tend to feel more connected to their coworkers and higher-ups. Business that huddle daily attack issues, are better informed, and produce enhanced results.

If your company is lacking cohesion or team members are less engaged than you’d like, it’s time to consider doing the huddle. We all know the power of communication, and when people get together to share information and motivation, there’s nothing but improvement on the horizon.

And if you are looking for more ways to engage and motivate your team, consider using our online employee rewards tool. Sign up for a free trial or get in touch with us to find out more.