So you’ve survived a crisis, completed a project, or got to the end of your latest round of planning. Time for the next thing, right? Well - almost. 

Before you look forward, take a moment to look back at everything you’ve just done.

By making the conscious effort to look back and reflect, you actively use your recent experiences to improve how you approach similar situations in the future. You build your confidence in overcoming adversity, you appreciate how much you’ve done, and you identify areas you’d like to improve.

Yep, we’re talking Lessons Learned. Far from a time wasting, navel gazing distraction, a good Lessons Learned session can give us more value than any course or coaching session. It allows you to reflect on your performance in real life situations, and set out ways you’d like to improve for next time.

Questions To Ask Yourself

Most of my clients that struggle with Lessons Learned sessions treat them like a list of everything that went wrong. That’s why I’d recommend this list of questions (in order) to help you see the good and the areas to improve!

1. What went well?

2. What would you like to do again or replicate in future?

3. What didn’t go as planned?

4. What wouldn’t you do again?

5. What surprised you?

6. Are there any aspects you’d outsource in future?

7. What did you learn about yourself?

8. What did you do well?

9. Did this activity/project align with your strengths, values and ambitions?

10. What’s your biggest take home lesson from this activity/project?

You don’t need to write an essay on each of these, but you will end up pulling out interesting insights to use in future…

Referring Back to Your Lessons Learned 

While reflection for reflection’s sake is beneficial, you may have some lessons that are well worth implementing in future. To do this you could…

#1 Store Your Lessons Learned Somewhere Obvious

I have one document with all of my lessons learned. Then, I can reflect on this project and all of the ones before. Great for tracking progress and seeing how you evolve over time!

#2 Create Actions to Implement Lessons Learned in Your Processes

Make sure you add any changes you’d like to make to your to-do list, and set aside the time to follow up. If you wait until the next time you’re in the same situation you’ll not remember all the details, so help future you out and make this a priority.

#3 Check in with a Coach or Mentor

I regularly support my clients with Lesson’s Learned sessions, and I help them reflect back as they implement any identified changes. Your business coach or mentor will be able to help you with this too - and it’s sometimes easier for someone else to see the good, especially if it was a project/activity that didn’t go to plan!

#4 Create an Updated SOP or Process Video

If you are changing a standard process as a result of this project, update your SOPs and process videos as soon as possible. If you want to, you can even include the rationale behind the updates to act as a reminder!

#5 Share with Your Team/Freelancers

As well as sharing your reflections (and thanks!) with your team, you could host a group debrief and collect lessons learned from the whole team. This doesn’t need to be complicated, but a well facilitated debrief can make sure your whole team progresses and grows together. 

How do you approach reflecting on your progress in your business? If you want an extra layer of reflection, check out the business scorecard!