The 2023 year-end has arrived, and now is the time to create a framework through which you can assess your progress over the past year. To achieve this, consider using an after-action review, a structured evaluation tool the U.S. Army uses in reviewing performance in battlefield exercises.
By Jon Lokhorst, CPA, CSP, PCC
The 2023 year-end has arrived, and now is the time to create a framework through which you can assess your progress over the past year. To achieve this, consider using an after-action review (AAR). This structured approach has been a tool of the U.S. Army in evaluating performance in battlefield exercises, but the general framework has been adopted by governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations for other purposes.
Today, the AAR is a widely used tool to analyze natural disaster responses, cybersecurity incidents, safety breaches, emergency preparedness, and more routine situations. The framework can expand or compress depending on the size and scope of the project, program, or event being evaluated. At an individual level, consider using an AAR for feedback on specific work assignments. Additionally, an AAR can be used as a catch-all assessment of your team’s performance during a designated time frame, such as the pursuit of the year’s goals.
An AAR asks four essential questions to generate discussion within the team:
Use these questions to get team members talking before you add your comments. Be prepared with second-level questions to go deeper into the discussion. Questions should start with What, Where, When, and How because inquiries that begin with Why can trigger defensiveness.
Potential second-level questions could be in the vein of the following examples:
Here are a few additional considerations when preparing an AAR:
Maybe you’re not sure what to include in an AAR? In short, include just about anything and everything related to your team’s performance. Some points may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Hold your AAR as an offsite event to inspire creative thinking and critical problem-solving. If time allows, look back at the prior year during the morning and look ahead at next year’s goals during the afternoon. Combine it with a team-building event by adding a happy hour, dinner, or social event after the business discussion. Employing the AAR tool will enhance your team’s performance, build alignment, and provide a jump start on achieving your goals for next year.
Jon Lokhorst, CPA, CSP, PCC, is a leadership speaker, trainer, and coach, and the author of Mission-Critical Leadership: How Smart Managers Lead Well in All Directions. Before launching Your Best Leadership LLC, Lokhorst enjoyed a 30-plus-year career as a CPA, CFO, and organizational leader. He can be reached at jon@yourbestleadership.com.
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Statements of fact and opinion are the authors’ responsibility alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the PICPA's officers or members. The information contained herein does not constitute accounting, legal, or professional advice. For actionable advice, you must engage or consult with a qualified professional.
Statements of fact and opinion are the authors’ responsibility alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of PICPA officers or members. The information contained in herein does not constitute accounting, legal, or professional advice. For professional advice, please engage or consult a qualified professional.