All about team huddles [+ free templates!]

Picture this: Your laptop is charged, you’ve got a mug of coffee on your desk, and you’re all ready for a productive day at work. Before diving into your first task of the day, you’ll need to spend a few moments organizing and prioritizing. And that’s exactly where team huddles come in. 

Team huddles are quick daily meetings to discuss priorities, responsibilities, and tasks. They’re the perfect recurring pulse check to start your team off on the right foot every day. In this article, we’re diving deeper into team huddles to share how and why they can be a vital addition to your team.

Benefits of team huddle meetings

Since they’re generally so short, it’s easy to wonder if team huddles are actually worth implementing, but they’re associated with many benefits. Here are just a few.

1. Track progress

Team huddles are a great way to monitor project progress. Even in such a quick conversation, you can easily get an idea of goals and metrics, and in turn, gain a better idea of what needs to be accomplished next to take steps toward those goals.

2. Boost clarity and accountability

Team huddles help you gain focus to maximize productivity during your day. Plus, when used to share status updates, they’re a great way to maintain consistent accountability so everyone is working toward something productive.

3. Reduce unnecessary communication

Instead of going back and forth over email or trying to set up a time for a fast Zoom check-in, a team huddle gives you an opportunity to ask questions and gain clarity at the beginning of your day, so you can maximize productivity throughout. Plus, it will also save you time later seeking answers to questions you have.

4. Promote team relationships

When teams see each other daily, rapport builds and bonds are strengthened. Taking time to check in, share news, or engage in icebreakers allows members to get to know each other, especially when your team is dispersed. This leads to more synergy, trust, and better working sessions later. 

How to set up a team huddle

Team huddles can take place face-to-face or over a video call. You can choose to schedule your team huddle for any time in the day that makes sense to your team or organization. While many companies choose to hold team huddles first thing in the morning to align before team members jump into their work, it could make even more sense for you to schedule your team’s huddle right after lunch or at the very end of the day. All that matters is that the time stays consistent, so attendees always know when to expect it, and it can become part of their routine. Virtually any team would benefit from a huddle, but particularly those struggling with alignment or focus.

Consider implementing a virtual meeting room in Lucid that users can join each time to document these meetings. There, you can leave questions, host icebreakers, and more.

Team huddle agendas

Because team huddles are typically only 10-15 minutes each, there isn’t enough time for an extensive agenda or long conversations. The minimal length of the meeting means that each minute will matter. A proper agenda can keep your team on track and make the most of your team huddle. Consider including an icebreaker or leaving time to share good news. Set aside time for updates, and leave space for team members to surface issues and ask questions to set their day on the right foot.

Tips for a successful team huddle

Team huddle meetings may be quick, but they can greatly impact your team’s alignment and productivity. Here are a few of our best tips for ensuring productive huddles:

1. Use templates

Incorporating a template for an icebreaker, check-in, or agenda can cut down on set-up time. Here are a couple of helpful templates to consider implementing. 

2. Mix up the format

Daily meetings can become monotonous. To avoid becoming too routine, switch up the format and try something new. Experiment with different meeting lengths, try meeting at lunch instead of first thing in the morning, or take turns facilitating the huddle. 

3. Keep your agenda short and sweet

Team huddles are for raising issues, not for solving them. Keep things simple to avoid keeping others over time, and avoid trying to make the huddles something they aren’t. If a question or a concern is raised, another meeting can be scheduled to specifically address it if needed, keeping things organized and timely.

Whether you want to align on a task, take your team's temperature, or host an icebreaker or small activity, team huddles can add great value and clarity to your team. Follow our tips to ensure that they’re as effective and valuable as possible.