The Death of the Huddle
It’s been described as inevitable innovation. The NFL has sought to transform the pace of the game. The hurry up offensive system aptly called the no-huddle offence is inline with the pursuit of scoring more points, enabling more plays, and optimizing fan engagement.
The origins of the huddle date back to the 1890’s. It was first used at Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf. Paul Hubbard, Gallaudet’s quarterback solution to stopping the opposing team from discerning the play which was being communicated using sign language as both teams were hearing impaired was to summon his team into a huddle. This huddle shielded his team’s intention. The practice spread across football and allowed for more complex formations to be devised and executed.
The huddle grew, depicting a sense of community, tribe, and bond the players had formed. It was a space to calm nerves, to output frustrations, and for many quarterbacks to assess the health of his players.
Within the New York Times article; Ready, Set, Gone Joe Montana describes his 1989 Super Bowl game ending huddle. Trailing by 3 points with a little more than three minutes remaining in the game. Montana noticed that his teammates seemed more tense than usual, especially tackle Harris Barton. Spotting the comedian and actor John Candy in the stands, Montana tapped Barton and said, “look, isn’t that John Candy?” Barton smiled. The 49ers went on to score the game winning touchdown in the final minute. Montana shares “sometimes the huddle is the place to make a joke so everyone can relax and just go about their jobs”.
The death of the huddle in football started me down the path of how huddles impact us in business. Leigh Buchanan describes the huddle as embracing a daily micro-meeting to keep everyone in sync within her article; The Art of the Huddle. Their she shares that huddles are specifically designed to align growth minded organizations and not to problem solve. But, as football evolved away from the huddle through sharply defined roles of each player, a need to increase game play and opportunity to score, and one to one player direction oppose to overall team direction. I’m left to wonder how the world of sports will influence our larger business application of the concept behind the huddle.
How has your organization embraced huddles to help create a sense of connection, alignment, and efficiency? What tools are allowing your organizations to huddle as more and more team members are connected virtually across the organization?