When we come to the end of a project or activity, it is common to review the outcomes. It can be very easy to consider these outcomes from a negative perspective, what went wrong rather than what went right. Next time you need to review a project, try looking at its successful outcomes. At the very least, try balancing each negative consideration with a positive.
| Negative/neutral question | Success-focused alternative |
| What went wrong? | What went right? |
| What are our needs? | What are our strengths? |
| What did we learn? | What did we learn to do better? |
| What issues should we put on the agenda? | What issues can be taken off the agenda? |
| How can we improve? | What strengths could we make more use of? |
| What’s missing from this group? | What are the assets of this group? |
| What would you do differently next time? | What would you do the same next time? |
| What do you want to achieve? | What is your recipe for success, and how will you apply that? |
Related articles
- 5 Steps to Effective Meetings (victoriasvip.com)
- Focus on Outcomes, Not Organization (feld.com)
