The practical shortcut to lessons learned workshops

Lessons learned workshops can be amazing for a range of reasons: they help you review and reflect on a change, connect with your colleagues, provide an emotional close to a project, and create a library of learnings for future changes. And you don’t even need to wait until a project has gone live, you can do them after any key milestone. Heck - I’ve even used them at the start of a change to reflect on previous implementations and set the next project up for success!

I generally call them Post Implementation Reviews (PIR for short). Sometimes the project will do it, sometimes it falls to you as the Change Manager as part of the handover and embed phase and to drive the ways of working. It doesn't really matter. I'm always happy to jump in and do it because the project is going through the change along with the impacted stakeholders and teams. They are stakeholders just as much as any other team, so they do fall under the realm of “Change”. 

I actually like to lead these Post Implementation Reviews. I find it really handy. If the project is running one, sometimes they’ll leave the Change aspects out of it or won’t focus on them enough. So if they are running one, you might still choose to run a separate Change PIR. If the project is not running one, you might decide instead that you are going to run just a Change one, or a holistic one that also incorporates the Project aspects as well.

I cover in detail who to include in your PIR, the different topics you could include, how to actually facilitate the workshop itself, and what to watch out for, in Module 5: Measuring Success & Embed of my Leading Successful Change program. But for our purposes here, I thought I’d just share high level the easiest and simplest shortcut to doing lessons learned:

- What worked well?

- What didn’t?

- What can we do differently next time?

I love keeping it really simple with these 3 questions, and while there’s many other methods and techniques out there to review projects and changes, such as Rose Bud Thorn, I just feel like the simpler you can keep the activity, the more people can focus on the feedback rather than trying to understand the tool. I think we can get so caught up in crazy confusing models. Just get it done! It doesn't matter how you get it done, what’s important is that you do the reflection and make it as simple and easy as possible. And that’s why I love this simple shortcut to lessons learned workshops.

Reflection is so powerful – that’s what PIRs are all about and often with projects they can just keep going on and go straight to the next delivery.  And it’s really important, especially from a Change perspective, to make sure that we reflect on anything else that needs to happen or anything else we can put into place for the future.

Lata xx

P.S. In my Leading Successful Change program, I delve deeper into all the workshops I run for Change Management delivery including benefits mapping, vision setting, impact assessments, change planning, training needs analysis, training planning, business readiness and more. You can join LSC from anywhere across the globe at any time and start building your confidence to lead change end-to-end, but it’s even better if you join in time for our Bonus End of Year Coaching Call on tomorrow Wednesday 3 December: learn more and join here in time for the bonus call. Alternatively, you can:

1. Download my free Underpaid and Overlooked Coaching Action Guide for inspiration and step-by-step instructions to change careers with confidence and earn your worth: click here to download
2. Check out my free 6 Ways to Instantly Build Trust video to connect quickly with stakeholders and build relationships in a flash: click here to watch
3. Get my global bestseller Pioneer Your Career Change book (available in paperback and eBook on Amazon, or all audiobook platforms) filled with tips to unlock your passion and purpose in career and life): click here to get the book
4. Get my Change CV Template auto-filled with the transferable skills and winning format to shine in Change Management job applications: click here to get template
5. Watch my Intro to Change Management webinar to start or step up in your Change career: click here for instant access
6. Join the waitlist for my 2026 Instant Change Consultant Retreat to turn your expertise into unlimited income potential and fulfilment doing work you love with clients who make your heart sing: click here to join retreat waitlist