Circle in the Huddles

I have a quick one here and the topic is circle the huddle so people focus.

I hope you’re doing well and staying safe out there. I’ve got some exciting progress updates. The Takt book second revision is going out on Friday, which I’m stoked about. The Elevating Construction Skills course is almost done too, all the videos are recorded, and only a handful of graphics remain. Effie, my daughter, is already formatting the pages. We’re also wrapping up the First Planner System book graphics by Monday, and both the Takt book and Elevating Construction Foreman will soon be available in Spanish.

We’ve been flooding this industry with content: nearly 20,000 YouTube subscribers, 233 videos, over a thousand blogs and podcasts, and hundreds of tools and guides. The feedback I hear makes it worth it. One project engineer wrote to say how much the content inspired him and asked for more resources for engineers stepping into assistant PM and PM roles. That is already in the works, and we have filmed material specifically to help project engineers take that next step.

Now onto today’s thought. One of the most important things you can do on a project is the morning worker huddle. The data proves it. It is the number one driver of operational excellence. Whether your project is worth billions or thousands, the huddle works. For five to ten minutes, you gather workers as they come in, shout them out, cover safety and planning, share quick training, and make sure everyone is on the same page. It creates one social group and sets the tone for the day.

But here is the challenge. Sometimes people hang back, chat with friends, or mess around instead of paying attention. That kills the effectiveness of the huddle. My advice is simple: circle the huddle. The GC team should spread around the back and politely move people forward, ask them to quiet down, and tighten the group. It may take a couple of days, but soon the culture shifts. Everyone becomes respectful, focused, and engaged.

I have had to call people out before. Once, a trainer was distracting a group of 200 during a huddle. It was frustrating, but letting toxic behavior slide would have been worse. I told him directly that his behavior was disrespectful to me and the group. He was upset, but the distraction stopped. The truth is, if one person is on their phone or refusing to pay attention, it affects everyone. That is why the team has to protect the huddle.

The key is to do it in the right way. Most of the time, people respond well when you ask respectfully. Something as simple as “Hey, would you mind helping me out?” or “Can you come forward a little bit?” is enough. If someone resists, you may need to be firmer, but always aim to resolve it positively. I have found that with consistency and kindness, the group comes back together and the culture improves.

The bottom line is that the huddle only works if everyone takes it seriously. You have to make sure there are no distractions, that people are engaged, and that respect is maintained. When you circle the huddle and hold the standard, the payoff is huge.

On we go.

Key Takeaway:
The morning worker huddle only works if everyone takes it seriously. Circle the huddle, remove distractions, and set a tone of focus and respect so the whole team benefits.