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On TV shows like “CSI” and “NCIS,” the post-mortem autopsy usually involves all sorts of investigative techniques not recommended for the squeamish. I can’t stand to watch when the medical examiner lifts out the brain or heart and plops it onto a scale.

I guess I’m not suited to forensic work.

There’s a different type of post-mortem YOU can use to increase your profits, shorten your work-week, and keep your side gig clients happy… the Project Post-Mortem.

After every project you do – whether it’s a job for a client, an album you’ve finished recording, or a snazzy new logo you’ve designed – you can take stock of your wins and losses, and really examine the guts of what makes your projects tick.

Here are a few questions you can review, both on your own and with your clients and team members:

1. What went right on this project? What one thing would we absolutely do again in a hearbeat?
2. What roadblocks did we have in our project? What one thing do we want to avoid doing again?
3. Was the client happy? (If not, what could we have done to make the client happier?)
4. What was a waste of time or money?
5. Did we charge enough?
6. What can we do differently next time, to make our projects faster (or cheaper, better, etc.)?

Start with one or two questions that apply to your project. As you do more post-mortems, you’ll find that some problems come up often, and you can work to reduce those. You’ll also start to see ways you can work faster, cheaper, and smarter. This is where the post-mortem can be most valuable.

If you’d like more info on project post-mortems, working with creative teams, and staying happily employed, check out this terrific In-HOWse interview with Dyana Valentine. I listened to it last weekend on a road trip, and had quite a few “aha moments.”

Got your own post-mortem pointers? I’d love to hear them! Post your suggestions in the comments.