Your process is fixed. Now fix the way you run projects. The After Action ReviewAn After Action Review (AAR) is a structured team reflection at the end of a project or task: what was planned, what actually happened, why, and what to carry forward next time. Click term for full definition turns one project’s experience into lessons the whole organization can use. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.
Tool video
The short tool video will appear here.
After Action Review in short
- Gather the team. Everyone who worked on the projectA unique, temporary endeavor with a defined goal that is important, urgent or complex enough to need its own organization outside the normal line organization. Click term for full definition, 60 to 90 minutes, safe space.
- Ask the four questions. What was planned? What happened? Why the difference? What will we do differently?
- Look at the collaboration. Communication, conflicts, sponsorship. How did we work together?
- Fill Start, Stop, ContinueA simple retrospective matrix capturing what a team should start doing, stop doing, and keep doing on future projects. Click term for full definition. One sticky note per idea, then cluster and agree on the top items.
- Share the lessons. Update templates and checklists, send a one-page summary to sponsors and peers.
Key points
- Four questions for lessons learned.
- Look at teamwork, not only results.
- Start, Stop, Continue.
- Turn lessons into updated templates.