Adapt & Thrive Mastermind, January 21st
What the heck is an AAR? Why is it important for local businesses, large or small? Most importantly, is it worth the time? First of all, AAR stands for After-Action Review. You sit down and reflect on all your business’s activity from the past year, assessing what was successful, what wasn’t, and why.
Second, an After Action Review is an important step for planning out each new year. You can analyze where you put in the most effort and whether or not it paid off. Once you know that, you can avoid similar missteps in the future and expand upon the projects and promotions that actually helped your business grow.
Lastly, it’s totally worth your time, because you can complete an After Action Review in only 1 hour using the steps we discussed during our latest Adapt & Thrive Mastermind!
Top Takeaways from our January 21st Mastermind:
- Revisit your 2020 goals, and write down specific actions you took toward those goals. Make note of your successes. Also note what you tried that wasn’t so successful, which we call “fail-forward learning.” Write what you believe were the reasons why some things worked and others didn’t.
- Once you’ve got this information listed out, you should refer to it while you plan for the coming year. If you notice that you’re repeating some of the same old stuff that got you nowhere, wasted resources, or caused undue stress, you can steer your planning in a more worthwhile direction.
- If you’re trying to start new work habits this year, use a planner to get organized! You can even schedule a time on your daily calendar to plan. Just 15 minutes can focus your attention each morning on which tasks you need to prioritize, and/or help you assess your progress at the end of your workday.
- As you expand your network during this time of heightened digital connectivity, make sure you’re leveraging the talent and expertise of those you’ve met. Delegate tasks that are cluttering your to-do list (freeing up your schedule for more productive work) while keeping a fellow local business going strong!
After Action Reviews don’t have to be annoying. With the simple and fast process we’ve shared, you’ll have a working log of exactly what boosted your business and what didn’t. Go forth now, friends, and use your newfound wisdom to plan an even more fruitful 2021!
If you need more ideas and inspiration, join our community of local business owners who are seeking growth this year. Our weekly mastermind sessions are part educational, part networking, part collaboration… not to mention, they’re always FREE and fun! Register here now!
P.S. Want to watch the mastermind on demand? Sign up for an Adapt & Thrive Plus Membership! For just $5 a month, you get access to nearly all of our mastermind presentations, as well as any slide decks and additional materials shared.
