When is professional development like a gender reveal?

Published 2 days ago • 1 min read

Something I’ve noticed about gender reveal parties is that they can get pretty ... weird. Some of the party decorations on Pinterest these days include themes like “boots or bows,” “staches or lashes,” and my personal least favorite, “guns or roses.”

They are giving the exact same energy when I see professional development sessions modeled like NASCAR pit stops or the “Top Gun Experience” to help you “strategize your business like a fighter pilot.”

I wrote about it on my blog – check out my latest article here.

This article is all about the After Action Review–an evaluation method that actually started with the US Army in the 1970s. Since then, it’s been used in all US military branches and has expanded into organizational leadership and professional development.

But the After Action Review (AAR) isn’t all goofy Top Gun and NASCAR trends painted over an employee outing!

I’ve recently begun encouraging my clients to introduce the concept of an after-action review when sunsetting a program at their nonprofit, when a project team is wrapping up their work, or when a consultant team is ending their support of the organization.

My version of the after-action review includes questions to help you honor the work done, acknowledge challenges, and capture valuable lessons for the future.

It can be a hugely effective tool for your organization to collect post-program feedback in a way that actually strengthens your company culture.

Get my tips to create your own after-action review process on the Leaving Well Blog, or listen to the podcast version!

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