After-Action Reviews: From the Battlefield to the Boardroom—How Nimble Feedback Powers Business Evolution

Imagine your team harnesses the power of real-time feedback to continuously fine-tune projects, systems, and client dynamics—without the friction, finger-pointing, or missed insights that often come at the end. That’s the essence of the Army’s After Action Review (AAR)—a structured yet flexible process designed for rapid, honest reflection and continuous improvement.

Military boots climbing a rocky slope, symbolizing the origins of After Action Reviews in the Army and the climb toward continuous improvement in business leadership.

What Is an After Action Review, and Why It Works

Developed by the U.S. Army in the 1970s, the AAR is a structured reflection tool that helps teams compare what they intended to achieve with what actDeveloped by the U.S. Army in the 1970s, the AAR is a structured reflection tool that helps teams compare what they intended to achieve with what actually occurred. Business author Michael Hyatt has adapted the framework into a six-question structure that keeps feedback nimble, action-oriented, and forward-looking with a new KISS accronym:

What worked?
What didn’t work?
What do we Keep?
What do we Improve?
What do we Start?
What do we Stop?

These questions are deceptively simple but powerful. They cut through noise and hierarchy, create space for candid dialogue, and focus on both capturing wins and identifying actionable improvements. Importantly, they encourage leaders and teams alike to think in terms of progress, not blame.

Why Nimble Feedback Is Vital for Business Leaders

Real-time insights, not stale hindsight: When feedback occurs immediately or during the project, issues are timely and feelings are fresh.
Minimal friction, maximal learning: AARs promote open, respectful dialogue over hierarchical critiques. “Leave your rank at the door” is an Army motto for an honest, non-blaming atmosphere.
Culture of continuous improvement: Business adaptation depends on quick learning. When AARs are normalized, they create a proactive learning loop—not just reactive problem-solving.
Team bonding and leadership growth: Facilitated conversations strengthen trust, prompt candid reflections, and develop leadership from within.
Avoid lost memory and overlooked issues: Post-project “retrospectives” that occur too late risk revisited haze and emotionally sanitized insights. AARs fix that by capitalizing on real-time recall.

Minimal-Friction AAR Model

At Rock Paper Scissors, we’ve adopted AAR not just as a postmortem, but as a continuous, living process—especially critical for both project and retainer work. Here’s how it unfolds:

Ongoing, accessible spreadsheet
The team documents ideas, frustrations, feedback, and wins in real time. It’s a safe space to jot down candid reactions as they happen—not weeks later. No waiting, no forgetting.
Immediate insight, not delayed debriefs
By logging issues as they arise, the team preserves emotional nuance, specific observations, and actionable detail. We don’t wait until the end to gather feedback; we surface it as we go.
Inclusive and moderatable
The spreadsheet is reviewed and edited before sharing with clients, ensuring clarity without compromising trust or psychological safety.
Client collaboration welcomed
Clients can contribute feedback—to the point where their perspectives deepen trust and surface new insights. It’s collaborative feedback, not just internal debriefs.
Focus on solving, not assigning blame
The goal is to flag inefficiencies or frustrations and act on them quickly. The frictionless format nudges us toward solution mode—identifying what’s not working and pivoting instead of pointing fingers.

Benefits RPS Has Reaped

Benefit	Description
Timeliness	Issues are captured as they happen, reducing miscommunication and missed opportunities.
Team cohesion	Shared vulnerabilities strengthen bonds; team members contribute openly knowing the space is safe.
Action-first mindset	When problems surface, the team refocuses energy on solutions instead of dwelling on mistakes.
Client alignment	Transparent collaboration with clients fosters trust, joint problem-solving, and co-ownership.
Scalable systems	The spreadsheet format is lightweight yet powerful—scalable across projects and easy to iterate.

Getting the Most from Your AAR Practice

If you’re looking to embed nimble feedback like RPS does, consider these suggestions:

Define simple AAR ground rules
- No blame culture, equal voice, review before sharing.
Standardize prompts
- Use the six classic AAR questions as headers for notes in the spreadsheet.
Build a review cadence
- At regular intervals—or client checkpoints—review and prioritize feedback for immediate action.
Empower all voices
- Encourage contributions from across the team and external stakeholders, including clients, by default.
Close the loop
- Log responses and remediation steps and update system/process based on feedback.
Reflect, then scale
- Periodically analyze patterns in AAR feedback to refine templates, training, and workflows.

Wrap-Up: From Army Ranks to Organizational DNA

The Army’s AAR isn’t just a military debrief—it’s a timeless blueprint for active reflection, continuous learning, and team alignment. It works because it’s:

Fast—happens when memories are fresh
Inclusive—designed for candid, safe conversations
Actionable—focused on “what’s next,” not “who’s at fault”
Scalable—works across teams, levels, and even allows client input

RPS’s spreadsheet-based AAR manifests these principles beautifully: frictionless, real-time, transparent, and improvement-oriented. It reinforces the mindset that feedback isn’t a quarterly chore—it’s the beat of progress.

Black Creek Business Coaching