We all want to improve on carrying out our mission/ministry.
Someone once said to me, “I have 20 years of experience, so I can’t understand why I don’t see any improvement in what we are doing”.
In response, I posed a simple question: “Do you have 20 years of experience OR one year of experience done twenty times over and over again?”
Remember the definition of “insanity”? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome! That’s insane. In other words, repetition doesn’t mean improvement. So, how do we achieve “improvement”?
In order to improve, you need to prepare an AAR (After Action Report).
An AAR is an evaluation of an event, a program, an annual appeal, or almost anything that you know you will do again in the future. An AAR asks the following questions:
- What was right?
- What went wrong?
- What was missing?
- What can we improve?
These questions need to be asked within 24-48 hours following the action being evaluated.
Why? Because…
- You won’t forget great ideas or repeat mistakes;
- You’ll be ahead of the game in preparation for next time;
- It will let your brain release the stress of holding on to details you don’t want to forget;
- This is the way you are going to make “improvements”.
Yes, this takes a little time when you’re up against the next thing to do. You choose: insanity or improvement.
As always, feel free to share this post with someone you feel would find value in it.
Contact me for a complimentary conversation.
John V. Clark, President/Partner
The James Company
Phone: (815) 353-8997
Email: jclark@jamescompany.com
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