Every morning at 9 a.m., Nuss Construction, in Marlton, N.J., has department managers meet for 15 minutes with president Tammy Herbert to review job status and day-to-day operations. The 9 a.m. meeting time gives managers an opportunity to stop by jobsites earlier in the morning. Herbert says that having everyone stand keeps meetings short. “You’re not as comfortable,” she points out, “so meetings are more efficient, and you don’t go off on tangents.”
The meeting includes the managers of five departments: roofing, restoration, remodeling, sales, and the office.
Each manager updates the team about department issues or concerns, including addressing scheduling and cash flow. “I consider it the prime communication tool of the business,” Herbert says. She doesn’t present at the meetings. “I don’t come prepared to present; I come prepared to listen,” she says.
Advantages of the daily meeting:
- Managers receive problem-solving input from the whole team.
- It helps managers allocate personnel and time for the most efficient process.
- Managers have fewer interruptions to answer questions throughout the day.
- It keeps managers accountable for their department’s goals and tasks.
Though Herbert says that the meetings are mandatory, if a manager can’t attend, he or she will email notes to the office manager to report to the team.
—Nina Patel, senior editor, REMODELING.
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Meaningful Meetings: A rundown of meeting types and their specific purpose
The Meet of the Matter: Ways to make management meetings more effective
Weekly Meetings: a useful tool, provided you have a clear agenda
