After‑Action Review: Capture Lessons That Save Time
Objective
Turn experience into improvements within 24–48 hours using a repeatable After‑Action Review (AAR).
When
As soon as people are rested and safe; sooner beats perfect.
How
- Purpose: One line: “What were we trying to accomplish?”
- Facts: Timeline and key events—no blame.
- What worked: Keep these.
- What failed: Why? Equipment, training, planning?
- Fix list: 1–3 changes with owners and dates.
Facilitation Tips
- Use a whiteboard; rotate who leads.
- Short, sharp, 20–30 minutes.
Real Example
After a winter roadside stuck, the team noted that moving triangles farther back earlier reduced near‑misses; they added “triangle distance by road type” to the kit card.
Checklist
- Template printout
- Marker/board
- Camera photos as prompts
Contingencies
- Heated emotions → pause and resume later.
After‑Action
Schedule the next AAR on your calendar now—discipline makes this work.
← Previous | All Articles | Next →