Teamwork Lessons from the Red Arrows: How Reflection Drives Better Performance

How do you get better at what you do?

We take inspiration from the Red Arrows. After every flight, the team sits down together and, without judgment or hierarchy, replays what happened. They analyse their performance, offer honest feedback and learn from each other.

It’s a simple but powerful technique that anyone can use. And at HCG, we’ve done just that.

At a recent project lunch, our senior consultant, Miles McLeod, walked the team through an ongoing project, sharing the key steps taken so far. Together, we asked three questions:

• What went well?

• What went wrong (without blame)?

• What can we do to be even better next time?

  
  

The discussion centred on a workshop from our recent project that was given to their leadership team. This sparked a lively and honest conversation about how these sessions play out in real life.

Here’s what stood out for us:

• Match your style to the sector.

• Choose where to sit on the scale between closed, direct feedback and open, creative thinking. What might fit the firm and team you are targeting with the workshop.

• Agility is everything. Change the plan if you need to and don’t be afraid to pivot.

• Get the right people in the room and value every contribution.

Reflection is just as important as delivery if you want to raise the bar. As the Red Arrows prove, excellence doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built through open conversation, shared learning and the willingness to improve together.

We bring that same spirit to our client work. No air displays, but plenty of honest reflection, collaboration and mid-flight course corrections to make sure every project lands smoothly.