{"id":23357,"date":"2022-05-05T13:17:18","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T12:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=23357"},"modified":"2022-05-05T13:31:01","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T12:31:01","slug":"team-huddle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/team-huddle\/","title":{"rendered":"Team Huddle: How to Implement a Short Productive Team Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

When you hear the term <\/span>team huddle<\/span>, the first thing you probably picture is a sports team, standing in a circle, the captain saying a few encouraging words before play begins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While a <\/span>team huddle<\/span> in business refers to something a little different, the association exists for a reason. <\/span>Team huddles<\/span> of both kinds require leadership, motivation and camaraderie. Yet these days, the kind of <\/span>team huddle<\/span> we\u2019ll be discussing here \u2013 the one more likely to be attended by people wearing button-down shirts rather than team jerseys \u2013 doesn\u2019t need to involve physical proximity at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

With <\/span>remote working<\/span> more popular than ever, RingCentral has created <\/span>Team Huddle<\/span> to help you set up quick and easy video or audio meetings whenever you need.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Team Huddle?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Team Huddle<\/span> is a feature of the RingCentral <\/span>app<\/span> designed to make meeting up over the internet simpler and more spontaneous. It allows you to create open channels for discussing projects, brainstorming ideas, addressing urgent issues, or just connecting with <\/span>team members<\/span> for a chat.<\/span><\/p>\n

We all know what it\u2019s like when a workgroup chat starts moving at pace. Messages can quickly stack up and if you look away even just momentarily you can often fall behind in the conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While messaging is no doubt an indispensable aspect of business communications today, there are certain situations where actually talking with your team is essential. Because <\/span>Team Huddle<\/span> opens straight from your team messaging channel and can be initiated by anyone, the conversation can seamlessly switch from messages to video chat as needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Team<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Team Huddle vs. Team Meeting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

The purpose of a <\/span>team huddle<\/span> is the same for <\/span>remote teams<\/span> as it is in a traditional office setup, where colleagues can physically meet in the same building.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Huddle meetings<\/span> are used to resolve various <\/span>team needs<\/span>. They\u2019re a great way to <\/span>address issues<\/span> as they arise, to help <\/span>team members<\/span> get a <\/span>better understanding<\/span> of each other\u2019s current situation, and to help <\/span>team leaders<\/span> carry out <\/span>check-ins<\/span> and oversee <\/span>workflows<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

While a huddle can be thought of as a type of <\/span>team meeting<\/span>, it\u2019s less structured and not necessarily goal- or agenda-oriented in the same way as other types of <\/span>staff meetings<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A formal <\/span>team meeting<\/span> can be organised weekly or bi<\/a>-weekly and typically lasts 30-60 minutes.\u00a0 A huddle, on the other hand, can be held at any time. It has no <\/span>set time limits<\/span> but frequently lasts 15 minutes or less.<\/span><\/p>\n

One popular <\/span>type of huddle<\/span> is the <\/span>daily team huddle<\/span>. <\/span>The daily huddle<\/span> can take place at any time of day but is often carried out at the beginning or end of the <\/span>workday<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In his book <\/span>Scaling Up<\/span><\/i>, the sequel to the bestselling <\/span>Rockefeller Habits<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Verne Harnish<\/span>, refers to daily huddles as the most important meeting of all your meeting rhythms. The <\/span>Team Huddle<\/span> feature in <\/span>RingCentral Video<\/span><\/a> brings these kinds of <\/span>daily stand-ups<\/span> to the realm of <\/span>video conferencing<\/span>, helping <\/span>remote teams<\/span> to maintain better and more consistent communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Power of Team Huddle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Because any <\/span>team member<\/span> can initiate a <\/span>team huddle<\/span> in RingCentral, the meeting can be implemented as and when needed and attended by the whole team or just a few employees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have a problem to solve or a decision to make? Maybe you just need to <\/span>check in<\/span> with your colleagues or have a quick feedback session. Set up a quick <\/span>team huddle<\/span> to address these issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not only do frequent and <\/span>effective huddles<\/span> help with <\/span>teamwork<\/span> and <\/span>employee engagement<\/span>, but they\u2019re also ideal for agreeing on <\/span>top priorities<\/span>, assigning tasks, and ultimately keeping projects on track.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Start A Team Huddle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Any <\/span>team member<\/span> can initiate a huddle in RingCentral \u2013 here\u2019s how:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Navigate to the message tab via the bottom menu bar or the main menu.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Select a <\/span>team messaging<\/span><\/a> conversation.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Click the video camera icon at the top right, then click start huddle.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Enter a topic for the huddle, then click done or skip to leave the topic blank.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Team members<\/span> will be notified that the huddle has started in the group channel and they can choose whether to join.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Timing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    The beauty of the huddle is that it can be initiated in an instant. Because all <\/span>team members<\/span> receive a notification alerting them that a huddle has started, organising remote meetings in the spur of the moment has never been easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

    But that\u2019s not to say that you can\u2019t also schedule <\/span>team huddles<\/span> for a specific time. This is a useful approach if you want to arrange daily huddles with your team or need to make sure that everyone is present.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Setting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    RingCentral provides an optimal <\/span>video conferencing<\/span> experience whether you\u2019re working remotely or using one of RingCentral\u2019s specially kitted out <\/span>conference rooms<\/span><\/a>. This means you can run hybrid huddles with some <\/span>team members<\/span> present physically and others virtually.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Joining a video meeting on any device is easy using the RingCentral <\/span>app<\/span>. Alternatively, join from any web browser with no download required.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Seamless device switching means you can easily swap between physical meeting rooms,\u00a0 mobile devices, desktops and laptops without having to start a new meeting. This means that if you need to leave your desk you won\u2019t have to interrupt the flow of a huddle.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"How<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/h2>\n

    Attendees<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    It\u2019s definitely a good idea to have whole-<\/span>team huddles<\/span> from time to time and many teams like to have full attendance for their daily huddle.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That being said, if for any reason <\/span>team members<\/span> can\u2019t make a huddle or don\u2019t need to be involved, that shouldn\u2019t stop the rest of the team from going ahead and holding one.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Frequency<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Because they can be initiated at any time and last as long as you need them to, RingCentral <\/span>Team Huddles<\/span> can be used as frequently as you require.<\/span><\/p>\n

    One popular huddle type is the <\/span>daily team huddle<\/span>. <\/span>The daily huddle<\/span> is a type of <\/span>daily stand up meeting<\/span> that many teams use to fill each other in on how projects are going, request any assistance or guidance <\/span>team members<\/span> may need, and catch up socially.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Agenda<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Unlike more formalised meeting types, huddles don\u2019t need to have a set agenda. Nevertheless, many teams have a short checklist of items they like to run through in each huddle.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Verne Harnish<\/span> recommends dividing a fifteen-minute huddle up into three five-minute sections.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What\u2019s up?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    In the first five minutes, each attendee spends up to 30 seconds elaborating on the work they have planned for the next 24 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    What are the metrics?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The next five minutes are then spent discussing the daily <\/span>metrics<\/span> your company monitors. Ask how the company as a whole is performing and how this relates to the specific challenges your team is facing.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Bottlenecks to check\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The final item on a <\/span>team huddle<\/span> agenda should be checking if anyone is struggling and asking about your team’s biggest concerns regarding any upcoming work.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Staying on top of these potential chokepoints is essential for <\/span>team leaders<\/span>. It helps them to spot potential difficulties that may inhibit a project and any underlying issues that need addressing.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"Bottlenecks
    Image Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    <\/h2>\n

    Common Team Huddle problems\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Although it\u2019s a valuable teamwork tool, the <\/span>huddle meeting<\/span> is not without its challenges. Problems teams face with their huddles can often be boiled down to one of four things:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n