Years ago, I read that 85+% of millionaires had a journal. That same year, I read the 6 Principles of High Performance. In that, one of the 6 high performance habits is clarity. It is essential if you want to be a great leader, to gain clarity around the most important things. One of the best practices we have for gaining clarity is reflection. In the military, one way we go about this is by conducting After-action reviews (AARs). They are a valuable tool for teams looking to improve their performance and reach their full potential. The purpose of an AAR is to reflect on what went well and what needs improvement after a task or event has been completed. This process helps teams identify areas for growth and take action to make progress.
In one of the local teams that I work with, we’ve started having team leaders lead these AARs in small groups. There are several key responsibilities for the leader of an AAR.
Facilitate
Coach
Encourage
Summarize
Firstly, it is important for the leader to facilitate conversation and reflection from each individual on the team. The leader should aim to take up no more than 20% of the conversation, allowing team members to share their own thoughts and insights. Secondly, the leader should coach the team by asking great questions that encourage critical thinking and help draw out more from each individual.
Another important responsibility for the leader is to encourage each team member. This can take many forms, such as praising team members for their efforts or offering support and guidance. It is also important for the leader to summarize the one thing that the team will do to improve their performance. This can help focus the team's efforts and ensure that they are taking concrete steps toward improvement.
In the first few weeks of implementing AARs, it can be helpful to keep things simple. One strategy is to have a coach listen in to each team's AAR, but not speak during the process. This allows the team to lead the AAR themselves and learn from their own successes and challenges. After the AAR, the coach can offer brief feedback to the leader on their performance.
It is also important to remember the why behind AARs. Reflection leads to growth, and consistently looking back and analyzing how we can improve is a habit that can lead to success in both personal and professional endeavors.
Overall, AARs are a valuable tool for team development and can help teams identify areas for growth and take action to improve their performance. By focusing on these key responsibilities and constantly communicating the importance of reflection, teams can make the most of their AARs and reach their full potential.