Description

Project debriefs are the thing most teams intend to do and rarely actually do. When they do happen, they’re often retrospective box-ticking rather than genuine reflection. This template gives you a structure for a debrief that produces useful information rather than a document that gets filed and forgotten.

How to use this

Run the debrief within two weeks of the project ending, while things are still fresh. Use the template as the agenda for a 60-90 minute conversation, not as a questionnaire to fill in individually.

Work through each section in order: what we set out to do, what we actually did, what the results were, what worked well, what didn’t, and what we’d do differently. The final section, key lessons and actions, is the most important. If there are no concrete actions, the debrief has probably stayed too abstract.

Write up a short summary and share it with the team and any relevant stakeholders. The write-up is what makes the learning visible and useful beyond the room.

What’s included

• Editable Word document (.docx)
• PDF reference version

Who it’s for

managers and freelance consultants who want to build genuine learning into their project process.

Before you download

• A debrief works best when run while the project is recent. Waiting three months produces vaguer reflections and fewer useful insights.
• After downloading, you will find both files in your account.
• You are getting a licence to use this and adapt it for your own work. You cannot sell, redistribute, or share it with others.