In today’s fast-paced world, staying informed is crucial. Whether you rely on local news, national broadcasts, talk radio, or online sources, the goal remains the same: to stay connected and informed. Our news sources reflect our personalities and communities—consider the loyal audiences of NPR, FOX News, or CNN. As technology advances, the speed at which news is disseminated has increased dramatically. This same acceleration applies to our organizations. In his book “Team of Teams,” General Stanley McChrystal highlights that modern organizations must plan and react as swiftly as their external environments change. Unlike the Civil War era, where generals had months to strategize, today’s military must adapt in real-time to counter rapidly evolving threats. Similarly, your competition and market are constantly changing. Adopting a Daily Huddle One effective solution to keep pace with this rapid information flow is the Daily Huddle, which I refer to as your organization’s “Daily News.” Here’s a simple yet effective agenda and format: Agenda:

• Headlines: Team members act as reporters, contributing relevant headlines, such as:
  • Important news from the previous day.
  • Celebrating wins, especially those tied to core values.
  • Key lessons learned for team improvement.
  • Insights about customers, competitors, suppliers, and team members.
  Example: “My department is installing new equipment today, so we can’t process new orders until tomorrow. Don’t promise any rush deadlines today.”
• Weather: This section covers relevant KPIs, metrics, and forecasts:
  • Individual results from the previous day.
  • Projections for today’s KPIs or metrics.
  • Reports on Company Critical Numbers and individual quarterly priorities.
  Example: “12 quotes were delivered yesterday for $25,500 in new projects. We’re currently running 2% late on projects for the quarter but are aiming for less than 1% lateness.”
• Traffic (Stucks): Identifying roadblocks that hinder progress:
  • Each person voices any specific issues they’re facing.
  • The team collaborates to address these “stucks.”
  Example: “I can’t send out the Acme proposal until I get the estimated shipping cost from Mary.”

Format: The size of your organization will dictate the huddle’s size and participant number, typically between 10-25 people. For larger organizations, multiple huddles are necessary, with leaders connecting information across teams. Key rules include:

• Conduct Daily Huddles every day.
• Limit the huddle to 15 minutes.
• Ensure all team members come prepared.
• Use systems like AlignToday.com to record the huddle.
• Rotate through the agenda items (headlines, weather, traffic) to keep engagement high.
• Start on time every time.

Conclusion Implementing a Daily News rhythm will empower your team with the necessary information to perform effectively. It creates shared consciousness, reduces the need for other internal communications, and fosters a habit of staying informed and connected. This practice will enhance your organization’s agility and cohesion, driving success in a fast-changing environment. If you have more questions or comments about the Daily Huddle, please contact me at rob@simons.coach. — Rob Simons is a coach, facilitator, and storyteller – a unique fusion of skills that makes him uniquely equipped to coach entrepreneurs and business leaders to scale organizations. Using the Rockefeller Habits as his foundation, Rob has successfully trained hundreds of clients to build a culture of purpose, alignment, and accountability in organizations across a variety of industries. Contact Rob at rob@simons.coach or 210-845-2782.