Daily Huddles: The Beginner vs. Advanced Approach
A listener recently asked about worthy superintendent-focused conferences. That led to a great discussion about field leadership training and eventually into a deeper topic I’ve been meaning to cover: why most daily huddles in construction are only information-sharing sessions, and how to take them to an advanced level.
The Problem With the Typical “Daily Huddle”
Many teams follow rules like:
- Keep it short
- Start and end on time
- No phones or distractions
- Stand up
- Get in a routine
- Stay on track
- Involve the entire team
Those aren’t bad rules, but when you apply them in the morning with foremen, what you’re running is a quick information exchange, not a true planning huddle. You’ll raise awareness, but you won’t solve problems or remove roadblocks.
The Advanced Approach: Three Distinct Huddles
- Foreman Huddle – Afternoon Before
- Purpose: Plan the next day tactically.
- Format: Sit down (give the foremen a break), talk through handoffs, identify roadblocks, and make sure tomorrow’s work is 100% ready.
- Duration: As long as it takes to add real value, 10 minutes or 45 minutes, it doesn’t matter.
- Worker Huddle – Morning
- Purpose: Create a social group, communicate the day’s plan, and give quick training.
- Duration: 5–10 minutes.
- Stand-up format works well here.
- Team Daily Huddle – 8 or 9 a.m.
- Purpose: PMs, PEs, supers, and others meet to remove roadblocks discovered earlier and organize priorities to maintain flow.
- Duration: Short and focused.
- Stand-up works fine here, too.
Why It Works
Separating these huddles allows:
- Foremen are to plan without rushing.
- Crews to start the day with clarity and connection.
- The management team to respond quickly to issues before they affect production.
Key Takeaway:
If you’re only meeting with foremen in the morning, you’re running an information-sharing session, not a planning huddle. Shift tactical planning to the afternoon, keep morning huddles short and social, and use a mid-morning team huddle to clear roadblocks. That’s how you move from “beginner” to “advanced” daily huddles.
If you want to learn more we have:
-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here)
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here)
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)
Discover Jason’s Expertise:
Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.
On we go
