Want a 25% Performance Uplift?

What if there was one action that could improve your executive leadership and team performance as you enter 2026?

Would you like a 25% performance uplift?

Research from Harvard Business Review shows that teams conducting structured retrospectives are 25% more likely to achieve their outcomes in the following year. A quality retrospective allows leaders to reflect, learn, and make deliberate choices about how the next year will unfold.

1. Examining Achievements

Start by reviewing what was genuinely achieved in 2025. Some successes may have occurred earlier than realised. Explore why they happened and how these outcomes can be replicated in 2026. Facilitated discussions help ensure these insights are grounded in fact and shared across the team.

2. Interrogating Struggles

Honest reflection on challenges is critical. Identify friction points across projects, teams, and the broader business. Consider external changes that influenced delivery and assess whether your team’s approach was effective. Skilled facilitation ensures these conversations remain constructive and focused on solutions.

3. Leadership Behaviour

Reflect on how leaders showed up. Many default to sympathy or softer conversations rather than specificity and empathy. A high-quality retrospective encourages direct, meaningful dialogue with teams and stakeholders, helping leaders refine communication and decision-making.

4. Talent and Capability Gaps

Consider who delivered the successes and ensure there is no hero culture. Shared responsibilities, predictable workflows, and the right people on the right work at the right time are essential. Identify capability gaps exposed by struggles and plan development or strategic hires for 2026.

5. Strategic Priorities for 2026

Define clear priorities linked to the organisation’s broader objectives. Anticipate potential changes that may require reassessment. These conversations set direction, focus effort, and align the executive team before the year begins.

6. External Agreements

Reflect on relationships with external partners and vendors. How can these be improved? Express gratitude for their support and clarify how they will best contribute in 2026. Strong partnerships underpin successful delivery.

7. The Role of Quality Facilitation

A skilled facilitator transforms a retrospective from a routine discussion into a powerful planning tool. In complex technology environments, they guide difficult conversations, ensure balanced participation, and anchor insights to measurable outcomes.

For facilitation and guidance on running a high-impact retrospective, please contact me.