Strengthening Teams in Dental Practices and

at SKF Practice Solutions

In any dental practice, starting the day with a quick, purposeful morning huddle can make all the difference. A huddle brings the team together, aligns everyone on the day’s priorities, and creates a shared sense of focus—all of which are essential for delivering consistent, high-quality patient care. Here at SKF Practice Solutions, we believe in the power of this daily ritual so much that we make it part of our own routine. Our huddles keep us connected and ready to support our clients each day, whether we’re celebrating wins, addressing challenges, or planning our next steps. Here’s a sneak peek into how we run our morning huddles at SKF and why we consider them such a valuable part of team success.

Purpose of Our Morning Huddle

For us, the morning huddle is more than just a quick meeting about the schedule—it’s about keeping our team connected. Every morning, we come together to:

• Align on daily goals: Make sure everyone understands the day’s priorities and each of our busy schedules.

• Strengthen team connection: Take a few minutes to check in on a personal level, building trust and camaraderie along the way.

By starting the day together and in sync, we’re better prepared to serve our clients and support each other throughout the day.

Structure of Our Morning Huddle

We’ve designed our huddles to be efficient, fun, and engaging, making sure each day begins on a positive note.

• Starting with a Fun Icebreaker
  We kick off each huddle with a quick, lighthearted icebreaker. It could be a question of the day or, Chase's favorite, 2 truths and a lie. These warm-ups help everyone start the day relaxed and in a great mindset and also helps us get to know each other better.

• Celebrating Wins from the Previous Day
  Next, we celebrate our wins! Recognizing these moments boosts morale and reminds us of the positive impact we’re making.

• Outlining the Plan for the Day
  Then, we cover the day’s essentials: the schedule, updates, individual needs, and any tasks that require special attention. With everyone aware of the day’s plan, we’re ready to jump in fully prepared.

• Open Floor for Comments and Suggestions
  At this point, we open the floor for team members to share comments, questions, or suggestions. This open dialogue keeps us collaborative and ensures every team member has a voice.

• Closing with a Motivational Quote or Affirmation
  We wrap up with a motivational quote or a positive affirmation. It’s a small but meaningful ritual that helps us stay focused on our goals and reinforces our commitment to showing up as the best version of ourselves each day.

Timing and Format: Keeping It Efficient

We keep our huddles effective and flexible by adjusting timing based on the day:

• Monday to Thursday Huddles: These are kept short—about 15 minutes—to cover immediate needs, wins, and any updates.

• Friday Huddle: On Fridays, we take a little more time (around 30 minutes) to review the week ahead and discuss any upcoming client needs or team goals. We also add a special core value spotlight—each month, we choose one of our core values to focus on. During the Friday huddle, we take a moment to reflect on how we aligned with that core value over the past week. This gives us a chance to connect our daily work to our larger mission and keep our values at the heart of everything we do.

Keeping a consistent format and timing helps us make the most of our huddle without taking away from our productivity and focus on supporting our clients.

Team Involvement and Impact

Each team member actively participates, whether sharing wins, discussing client needs, or offering suggestions. This shared involvement strengthens teamwork and ownership, making everyone feel more invested in our daily success and in supporting our clients.

The Benefits of Morning Huddles

Our daily huddles have become an essential part of what makes SKF Practice Solutions run smoothly, and I’m happy to lead these each morning. It’s a chance to set the tone for the day, keep us aligned, and ensure we’re ready to support our clients as a team. By setting aside this time each morning, we see benefits like:

• Improved communication: Regular huddles ensure everyone is informed, reducing miscommunication and creating smooth hand-offs.

• Boosted morale: Celebrating wins and sharing affirmations helps us stay positive and recognize each other’s efforts.

• Proactive problem-solving: The open floor allows us to address concerns early, keeping us ahead of potential issues.

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Conclusion

Our morning huddles are more than a daily check-in—they’re a way for us to connect, prepare, and support each other as we head into each day, even from different locations. Meeting virtually doesn’t stop us from building team spirit! At the end of each huddle, we all put our hands in and, on the count of three, raise them up with a cheerful “Go team!” By starting with an icebreaker, celebrating wins, reviewing the day’s plan, and sharing a positive affirmation, we set ourselves up for success and ensure that every team member feels valued and ready to give their best. In a field where teamwork and communication are vital, these huddles have become one of the most impactful parts of our routine.