5 Essential Parts to a Successful Daily Huddle

1. Simplicity - Many firms try to accomplish too much in a short huddle. Focus on two to three areas (e.g., safety, production and materials).

2. Real-Time Safety - Use job-hazard analyses, and devote immediate attention to safety issues.

3. Timing - Stay within a five- to 10-minute time limit. A crew leader should stay within time constraints. Also, ask everyone to stand during the huddle to keep it brief.

4. Benchmarking - The afternoon or "PM Huddle" should discuss which goals could not be achieve, and the project leader should determine the cause. This huddle gives the crew a sense of accountability.

5. Tomorrow's Targets - It is always important to keep an eye on the goals for the next day.