b"BUSINESS PERFORMANCEThe meeting is short, its on time, productive and painless.THE HUDDLE AGENDAAnd its only once a week with all your key staff. Your team reports facts, so you know whats what. They share importantThe agenda for the Huddle is simple, numbers, whos doing what, and where people are stuck. If youstraightforward and the same for every meeting:do it right, a team of 10 to 15 can complete this meeting in The meeting starts on timeunder 13 minutes, and everyone gets to talk at least twice.Everyone stands around the whiteboard, withtheir information readyThe bonus is that since the Huddle Everybody is welcomed to the Huddle is run by different people, the owner Looking at the whiteboard, the Huddle masterasks everyone for their numbers, one by one (the can take a backseat and listen and only thing that can be reported here is numbers)The Huddle master then asks Whats going on watch to see what's going on in your department this week? (In 30 seconds or less each participant reports just the facts with no complaining, finger-pointing or blame)Owners love it, because once youve set it up the ownerThe Huddle master asks: Where are you stuckdoesntrunthemeeting. Thepersonrunningthemeetingthis week? (In 30 seconds or less per each just follows the agenda and keeps everyone on task. Its not aparticipant again reports the facts with no beefing session. As a matter of fact, its a massive part of puttingcomplaining, finger-pointing or blame)a winning culture in place in your business. (Heres an insideThe meeting ends on time; everyone is thankedtip: its also used to keep family businesses from imploding.) and can get back to their dayTherearesomeimportantthingsforyoutodointro- Side conversations can now happenducetheHuddletoyourcompany.Forstarters,know yourcriticalnumbers.Thesewillgoonawhiteboardor monitor so everyone can see them. You also need to knowOut of curiosity I asked them if they would ever stop doing exactly who needs to be in this meeting, i.e., the owner, thethe Huddle now that they have it in place. Their answer was financeperson,youradmin,yourPMsandyourforeman.clear: Not a #$%^& chance, Dom! Keep it same old/same old, i.e., the meeting needs to takeThey like the Huddle because its really clear whos respon-place at the same time of day, in the same place every week.sible for what and everyone gets their turn to talk. When I It also needs to start on time and end on time. (For moreshowed them this simple system, I also helped them set very informationonhowtorunameeting,seethesidebaronclear rulestheres no blame, excuses or finger-pointingso the right.) its easily the most energetic and positive meeting of the week.Simple strategy The Huddle is the base of the weight rack. Its a simple If your people are frustrated with meetings that go nowhere,system. If youre wondering how to work less and make more, youre going to love the Huddle. The Huddle master is inthen youll need to put a lot of simple systems in. This is the charge,butonlyofthemeeting. TheHuddlemastersjobperfect one to start with.is to keep the meeting on the agenda and on time. If a sideDominic Rubino is a strategic business planner and profes-conversation starts up, then the Huddle master simply directssionalbusinesscoach.Formoreinformationonhisservices, the people involved to continue their conversation after thevisit bizstratplan.com.Huddle and not during it.ThebonusisthatsincetheHuddleisrunbydifferent people, the owner can take a backseat and listen and watch to see whats going on. Its a good idea to rotate the Huddle master position every week; that way, you will quickly see who runs a better, tighter meeting.I recently introduced the Huddle to a 16-man construction crew. The two partners running the company had been run off their feetevery time they needed a piece of information it took half a day to dig it up. Once I showed them how to come up with their critical numbers and create a simple whiteboard that everyone could see its become a completely different busi-ness for these guys.www.rcabc.org l31"