Lesson 3 of 6 · A day at Góc Hoa
The five-minute shift huddle
Seven steps, so the whole shift knows the same one thing
The shift huddle is not for criticism. It is five minutes for the whole shift to know how yesterday went, what today holds, and who stands where. Standing, next to the counter, five minutes before opening. The shift leader runs it, never longer than five minutes.
Seven steps
1. Gather, 30 seconds. On time, in a circle, phones away. Latecomers hear it again from the shift leader afterwards.
2. Appearance, 30 seconds. One look around: uniform, hair, nails, name badge, perfume. Fix it on the spot, no lecture.
3. Yesterday, 1 minute. Number of cups, number of app orders, number of mistakes. One piece of guest feedback read out word for word. One person who did well, named.
4. Today, 1 minute. Busy or quiet forecast, weather, promotions running, drinks sold out, pre-orders, anything special.
5. Positions, 30 seconds. Who takes orders, who brews, who runs orders, who is in the kitchen. Who takes their break when.
6. One reminder, 1 minute. Pick exactly one point from the procedures to remind everyone of today, and demonstrate it once. Remind them of three and nobody remembers any.
7. Close, 30 seconds. The closing line: "Thanh trong vị, nhẹ trong lòng, mình bắt đầu nha." (Clear in taste, light in heart, let's begin.) Then the whole shift does the start-of-shift tasting.
Write in the huddle log: date, shift, who attended, yesterday's numbers, today's reminder. The log sits next to the POS and the manager reads it weekly.
What to say
- Specific numbers: 96 cups, 31 app orders, one order missing a straw.
- The name of yesterday's good performer and what they did well.
- One piece of guest feedback, word for word, nothing added or removed.
- One single priority for today.
What not to say
- Criticism of one person in front of everyone. That is said privately after the shift.
- Pay, bonuses, penalties, internal company matters.
- More than one reminder.
A shift leader's one-minute example: "Yesterday we sold 96 cups, 31 app orders. One order was missing a straw; the guest messaged gently but we have to fix it. Bình got a compliment from a guest for her card yesterday. Rain is forecast this afternoon, so have all six hot Trà Dưỡng urns ready. Positions: An on orders, Bình brewing, Chi running orders. Today's reminder: second check before tying the bag. Thanh trong vị, nhẹ trong lòng, mình bắt đầu nha."
When the shift has only two people
Still hold the huddle, two minutes: appearance, yesterday, today, one reminder, closing line. If there is a new person on the shift, add 30 seconds to introduce them and assign a mentor.
If you are the one checking: Open the huddle log every week. A blank day is a day the shift started without everyone knowing the same one thing. Ask the shift leader why.
Run a huddle yourself once, all seven steps, with your mentor listening and timing you. Under five minutes with all seven steps is a pass.
Take this with you. One piece of feedback word for word, one person praised, one reminder. Five minutes, then begin.