Huddles suck.

Team huddles. That part of the day where 15 minutes turns into 60 and you don’t achieve anything. Well, maybe not for everyone, but from our point of view, there are better ways to have your huddle without all getting together at the same time. But first, lets take a look at some reasons you may be thinking huddles are not the one:

  1. Time consumption: Team huddles can consume a lot of time, especially if they are held daily or multiple times a week. This can lead to a reduction in productivity as team members spend time in meetings instead of working on tasks and projects.

  2. Lack of engagement: Team huddles can be seen as a waste of time by some team members, leading to a lack of engagement during the meetings. This can make it difficult for team leaders to effectively communicate and collaborate with team members.

  3. Lack of structure: Team huddles can lack structure, leading to unproductive meetings that don't achieve their intended purpose.

  4. Interrupting workflow: Team huddles can disrupt team members workflow and concentration, making it hard for them to get back on track after the meeting.

  5. Lack of diversity: Team huddles can be difficult for some team members, such as introverted employees, to participate in, which can lead to a lack of diversity in the discussion and decision-making.

It's important to note that not all team huddles have the same issues and it depends on how they are run and managed. However, it's important for the team leader to evaluate if the team huddle is beneficial or not and if there's a better way for the team to communicate and collaborate.

So how can async help?

Well we would challenge why the huddle has to happen in the format of a meeting. Async huddles would have you write your updates, blockers, issues in a structured document. If you need help, review, collaboration, tag someone. Write out problem statements and link updates. This way, people can take their time to review it and respond. Then if collaborators need to meet to discuss further, they’ll be meeting for a specific and focused reason. Not a regularly occurring meeting for the sake of meeting.

Some quick-fire benefits of async huddles:

  1. Increased flexibility: Asynchronous team huddles allow team members to participate at their own pace and schedule, which can be especially beneficial for remote workers or those with conflicting schedules.

  2. Increased productivity: Asynchronous team huddles can increase productivity by allowing team members to work on tasks and projects without being interrupted by real-time meetings.

  3. Improved communication: Asynchronous team huddles can improve communication by providing a clear record of what has been discussed and decided, which can help to reduce confusion and misunderstandings.

  4. Better time management: Asynchronous team huddles can improve time management by allowing team members to participate in the meeting during their most productive hours, rather than being constrained by the schedules of others.

  5. Greater inclusivity: Asynchronous team huddles can create a more inclusive work environment by allowing team members who may have difficulty participating in real-time meetings, such as introverted employees or those with disabilities, to contribute their ideas and insights.

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Work/life balance is better with async.