When we think about a product launch, we often focus on the excitement of releasing something new to our customers. But what happens after the launch? Whether your product met expectations, exceeded them, or fell short, there’s always something to learn. That’s where post-mortems come in.

A post-mortem is a structured reflection on a project—a chance to analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how you can do better next time. For Product Managers (PMs), post-mortems are a golden opportunity to drive continuous improvement, build trust, and grow as a team. Here are some tips to help you run effective post-mortems.

1. Create a Safe Space for Honest Feedback
The success of a post-mortem depends on everyone’s willingness to share openly. To encourage honesty:

• Set the tone upfront: Remind the team that the purpose is to learn, not to blame.
• Lead by example: Share your own reflections first, including what you could’ve done better.
• Use a blameless approach: Focus on identifying issues and solutions, not pointing fingers.

Psychological safety is key. If people feel comfortable, they’ll be more likely to share insights that lead to meaningful improvements.

2. Invite the Right People
Make sure to include everyone who was directly involved in the project, as well as stakeholders who can offer valuable perspectives. This might include:

• Engineers
• Designers
• Marketers
• QA testers
• Customer support representatives

Having a diverse group ensures you’ll get a well-rounded understanding of what happened.

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