This tool is one of the most HELPFUL tools for any event or project, I promise!
P = Plus
List all of the positive things that happened. Did you do a great job planning? List it! Was attendance at the event high? List it! List absolutely everything that you (or your team) did well. Focusing on positive things helps keep everyone motivated and feeling accomplished.
M = Minus
List the top things that perhaps could have gone better. Did you forget an important supply or presentation tool? Did the weather compromise your event? Get it all out in the open, and be perfectly honest. Looking at what went wrong is the only way to make improvements.
D = Delta
To me, this is the most important concept. These are the things that you would change if you were to do the event again. Perhaps you should have made a backup weather plan? Maybe next time you'll have a live DJ instead of the speaker system? Get all of your ideas out there! What could make the event/project better next time? How can we avoid the mistakes that happened this time? How can we enhance the things that went well this time?
Put all of these lists into a 3-column worksheet. I like to write them on my whiteboard and take a picture so that I have a big visual. I find that these kinds of lists are helpful for both small and big projects. When I'm writing a paper, for example, I like to quickly jot down things before AND after I get my grade. This kind of reflection helps me the next time I write a paper. When I worked for a large student organization, my executive team and I wrote a PMD for every single event we held. This not only helped us improved, but it also left a record for the future members of our organization.
Check out my last "Personal Update!" to see my personal PMD for my first Mary Kay event.
