In the 1970s, the US Army was struggling to answer a seemingly simple question: how did a unit perform on a combat mission?

Combat missions were complex operations involving the performance of multiple individuals. In the stress and uncertainty of battle, it wasn’t always clear what factors led to successful missions and what factors contributed to mistakes. 

The Army needed a process to uncover the truth so it could ensure future success. The stakes were high; repeating past mistakes could cost lives.

In response, the Army developed a simple reflection tool to be completed after every mission: the After Action Review.

The After Action Review is an exercise that answers four questions:

1. What did we expect to happen?

2. What actually happened?

3. Why was there a difference between what we expected and what actually happened?

4. What can we change next time?

Retired Four-star Army General Stanley McChrystal, who led the Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq from 2003-2008, spoke about After Action Reviews in a TED Talk he gave in 2011. In the talk, he credited the reviews with teaching him the lesson that “leaders can let you fail, but not let you be a failure.”

After Action Reviews are not just an opportunity to pause and reflect. They are an opportunity to be fully honest with ourselves.

After a major achievement or setback, it’s easy to skip the reflection or avoid facing the truth about how we’re showing up as husbands, fathers, brothers, or colleagues. While the stakes might be lower for a civilian than someone in combat, every time we don’t pause to reflect, we miss an opportunity for growth.

Is there an opportunity this week to complete your own personal After Action Review? As we enter the last three months of 2024, consider what reflections and learnings could be harvested for future growth.

Insights

How to Find, Build, and Maintain Healthy Romantic Relationships. Esther Perel, the world-renowned psychotherapist and relationship expert, went on Andrew Huberman’s podcast to uncover the secrets to healthy romantic relationships. Perel broke down the fundamental differences and challenges in relationships at different stages of life, the art of a true apology, and how to find, build, and revive powerful romantic relationships. Huberman Lab Podcast (2 hours, 6 minutes).

The Power of Strategic Subtraction. Most men make the same mistake when trying to change or transform their lives: they focus on adding—a new workout, a new routine, a new diet. It’s easy to fall into the trap that more is always better: more habits, more activities, more complexity. But this is a mistake. There is power in the process of strategic subtraction where you remove the noise, cut out what doesn’t serve you, and focus on what truly matters. Harder to Kill (6 minutes).

10 Rules for Sustaining Excellence. At the heart of sustaining excellence is the idea that we shouldn't worry about being the best, but instead focus on being the best at getting better. It’s about continuous improvement and process over outcomes. Brad Stulberg from The Growth Equation was invited to speak to the Detroit Tigers baseball team last week about the 10 rules for sustaining excellence as they mount a come-from-behind playoff run. The Growth Equation (5 minutes).

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