As a best practice, how long should a pre-shift meeting last?

The recommended duration for a pre-shift meeting typically ranges between 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the complexity of the day's operations and the topics that need to be covered. A meeting lasting less than 5 minutes may not provide sufficient time to effectively communicate important information, set expectations, or address any concerns that team members might have.

The purpose of a pre-shift meeting is to ensure that all staff members are aligned on their roles, any promotional items, special events, or operational challenges for the day. Effective communication during these brief moments can lead to improved efficiency and team cohesion.

While shorter meetings can be streamlined, they run the risk of being too superficial to prepare staff adequately for their shifts. On the other hand, a duration of 20 minutes may be excessive and could disrupt the workflow, leading to lost productivity before the shift begins. Therefore, the best practice is to aim for a concise yet comprehensive meeting within the standard time frame, ensuring that nothing critical is overlooked while still providing staff enough time to prepare and transition into their workday.