Streamlined “Huddles”—The New Micro-Meetings

More companies are embracing daily micro-meetings—a.k.a. "huddles" or "check-ins"--as a way of keeping colleagues in sync. A business practice long used everywhere from Capital One to the Ritz-Carlton, huddles got a boost in the small-business community from Verne Harnish, who called them a “must” for growth companies in his 2002 book Mastering the Rockefeller Habits. Short daily meetings, says Harnish, keep companies focused on strategic goals, ensure timely answers to pressing questions, and enforce accountability because everyone knows who is doing what.

A recent Inc. article describes huddles as “too streamlined to irk even hard-core meeting grouches” because they use the following ground rules:

•    They last no longer than 15 minutes
•    They begin on time
•    They prohibit “problem solving”

Beyond this, huddles are customizable: They can occur at any agreed upon time of day; they can follow a formulaic agenda or be more improvisational; they can include all staff or key leaders.  
"If you're a small organization, not doing this is crazy," says Patrick Lencioni, author of Death by Meetings. "When you're small, you can develop connections among staff that make you more nimble. Daily check-ins help you build a culture of unity and sustain it as you grow."

We want to hear: Does your organization use huddles, and what do you see as their benefits? If not, Do you think their addition might be valuable? To join the conversation, click "comments" on our Community of Practice Forum.

If you would like to read more about creating a habit around masterful communication, check out our book: Be Quiet, Be Heard: The Paradox of Persuasion.

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