Fail Once, Learn Fast. Fail Twice? That’s On You...

The story:

You know that old saying, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now.”?

Well, the best time to fix your mistakes was yesterday. 

The second best time? Right after you screw up.

Want to lead better? Communicate smarter? Stop repeating dumb mistakes?

It’s simple: Review your past.

Even the times you crashed and burned.

Especially those times.

And how do you do that?

With After-Action Reviews (AARs).

Special Forces swear by them. 

And if it’s good enough for the people who jump out of planes for fun, it’s good enough for you.

Let’s break it down as it’s about to get tactical.  

What Is an AAR, Anyway?

Ever done a “lessons learned” session after a project went sideways? Congrats—you’ve almost done an AAR.

But the Special Forces version? That’s a whole different beast.

An AAR is a structured, no-BS breakdown of a mission (or project). 

Everything gets analyzed—

• What went right?

• What went horribly, embarrassingly wrong?

• How do we fix it next time?

The goal? Learn fast, and never make the same mistake twice.

Because in their world, failure isn’t just a bad quarter—it’s life or death.

But, No Sugar-Coating Allowed

In an AAR, no one hides behind their title or past wins.

It’s brutal honesty, minus the drama. No finger-pointing, no ego-stroking. Just a cold, hard look at reality.

• The mission happened.

• Some things worked. Some didn’t.

• Now, fix it.

Special Forces can’t afford to repeat mistakes. And neither can you.

Breaking It Down: The 4 Key Phases of AARs

1. What Was the Plan?

Before everything went sideways, what was supposed to happen? 

This is your baseline.

2. What Actually Happened?

The slow-motion train wreck. 

Where did things fall apart? Equipment failure? Communication breakdown? Someone freeze up? 

Get specific.

3. Why Did It Happen?

No blaming “bad luck.” 

Was it poor planning? A bad decision? A missing system? 

If you don’t find the root cause, you’re doomed to repeat it.

4. What Will We Do Differently Next Time?

This is the money shot. 

Take what you learned and lock it in. 

If the same mistake happens again, that’s on you.

Not in the Military? Doesn’t Matter.

AARs aren’t just for soldiers. They work for anyone who wants to stop tripping over the same mistakes.

Why should you care?

• Fail Fast, Learn Faster – Fast mistakes lead to fast improvements. Running an AAR can guarantee you don’t mess up twice.

• Objectivity Over Emotion – Take the drama out of failure. No defensiveness, no excuses—just solutions.

• Continuous Improvement – Every mistake gives a lesson. Keep growing or stay stuck. Your choice.

How to Apply AARs to Your Work (Without Wasting Time)

1. Build an AAR Habit

• Don’t wait until the project is over.

• Run mini-AARs as you go. 

• Small fixes prevent big failures.

2. Create a No-BS Culture

• Accountability = Growth. 

• The best teams own mistakes instead of hiding them.

3. Actually, Take Action

• Reflection is useless if you don’t do anything with it. 

• Fix the problem before it bites you again.

Final Words: Leadership Is About Adaptation

Perfection isn't the goal in leadership; growth is.  

No learning means you're just spinning your wheels. 

So, next time something goes wrong (and trust me, it will), don’t just move on. 

Run an AAR, fix the issue, and get better.

Because the second-best time to learn from failure? Right now.

See you next time, leader.

Kris,
Leadership Lens

P.S. Want more insights? Connect with me on LinkedIn

P.P.S. Don’t forget to claim AAR framework by referring our newsletter to a friend! (Find the link at the bottom of the email).