Detox Your Debrief Session
Have you ever experienced a debrief session that's gone wrong? Did you have to burn sage to get rid of all the negative vibes from everyone venting? Did it result in anything meaningful that will change the process for the next project?
A few years ago, a former colleague and I questioned this shortly after sitting through a particularly difficult debrief. Even the most successful projects have their hiccups along the way. So, we wondered if we could create a more positive and productive approach. Our goal was to encourage the team to work together to identify the highest and lowest points of the project and brainstorm new ways to improve the experience for the next one.
But, is it possible to leave a debrief session hopeful and excited for the next project rather than frustrated? To walk away feeling like we've accomplished something?
Failures, even small ones that the client may not even see, teach us where to do better.
So how might we embrace these failures and turn them into something positive?
We decided we would turn the next debrief meeting on its head. Personally, I like to call them retrospectives…it feels more thoughtful rather than mechanical. A retrospective is a way to look back thoughtfully and objectively on a project, observing the good and the bad without judgment.
At the next meeting, we tested out a new approach by conducting an exercise where we asked a series of questions. Post-it notes were given to each team member to write down their answers for each question. This gives everyone an opportunity to weigh in.
What went well? What didn't?
What were the top 2 pain points and how can we improve them?
How might we implement these new ideas into the next project?
The responses to each question were organized on a board, sorted by question, and prioritized.
Once the notes were prioritized, we selected 1-2 responses and brainstormed ways to do them differently on the next project. Then, those ideas got implemented into the process. Everyone left feeling productive and positive about the next project.
The best part of this exercise is that it doesn’t take a lot of time to do. And, if something didn’t work, we can always take it away or refine it. Our goal is to keep that work flowing smoothly and efficiently for us and our clients.
I still use this method in my own business for large projects. It has helped me identify, pare down, prioritize, and focus on 1-2 tasks that will improve my process. Because sometimes a minor change can have a major impact on how well a project goes. And maybe gives us a little less heartburn, too.
© Scouter Design