The Power of the Debrief

Lesson #30: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit

Posted on May 4th, 2021 by Randall Taussig

I’ve written about the importance of a debrief in an earlier blog, but its critical role in aviation and business merits a deeper dive.

I recently watched a flight demonstration by the Florida-based U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The precision with which they fly takes skill, discipline and coordination. After each performance, they engage in the flight debrief.

They go over every detail of the performance with a fine-tooth comb, i.e., what they liked, what they didn’t, and what needs to be improved. Their safety and reputation are dependent on what’s learned and adjusted from each debrief. Literally, it’s a matter of life or death.

Most private and commercial pilots take the same approach at the end of every flight. Whether dealing with challenging weather, mechanical issues, or even if the flight went as planned, we consistently reflect, document and use what we learned to improve future outcomes.

Business leaders can leverage the power of the debrief as well. Here’s why:

It’s a leadership discipline
Great leaders use debriefs as a self-correct. They learn from their experience, and make adjustments so they can improve the performance of the business over time.
It identifies weaknesses and opportunities in real time
When it’s fresh in your mind, you can rapidly identify areas that need improvement and incorporate adjustments proactively.
It builds consistent, repeatable results
You are establishing best practices and a library of lessons learned. Debriefs lead to superb results.

How We Use Debriefs in Business

With our employees
During Quarterly Conversations and Annual Reviews, you and your employees can have honest conversations about the previous period. It’s the perfect time to make adjustments, set the stage for the next quarter or year, and escalate performance.
With our leadership teams
We debrief to determine the impact of the Rocks and Goals that we set. We assess, adjust and improve – one quarter at a time.
With Big Events
Events such as trade shows or business meetings are expensive and time-consuming. Incorporating the discipline of the debrief will bring about improvements that will improve the bottom line.

Stakes in business may be different than stakes in aviation, but the power of the debrief is just as critical.

Committing to timely and consistent debriefs is what will ultimately move the needle on your business.

Think about the events and processes you have in your business. How are you using debriefs to improve them? What have you learned? Please share with us in the comments below!

Leading from the Core