The core reason to conduct a post-mortem analysis is to continue getting better at project delivery. Taking time to talk about what didn't work allows you to prioritize issues and brainstorm ideas for improving as both a team and individuals. If you're on the fence about whether you really need to do a project post-mortem, I get it. The budget is over at this point, and your team is moving on to other projects. As a project manager, though, it's up to you to educate your team and leaders about the importance of this meeting. Let's take a look at some additional benefits of a post-mortem review. Celebrate wins Everyone wants to know their work is valued and appreciated by their team members, so don't miss a chance to reflect on the work that's been accomplished. With difficult projects, it's easy to forget everything you did successfully. Taking a moment to recognize all the awesome stuff you did together is a great way to boost morale as you head into the next project. Improve communication Post-mortem reviews help you learn how to collaborate better as a team, highlighting where you worked well together and where communication broke down. Transparent and honest sharing builds mutual understanding and brings you closer together as a team. This is especially critical in workplaces that rely on virtual meetings and Slack relationships to get things done. Build empathy Sharing perspectives as a team creates opportunities to look at the project from other vantage points. Understanding how certain challenges affect team members differently enables you to work together to adjust and address issues you may not have been aware of before. Provide closure Sometimes it's important to have space to simply get something off your chest. A good, open post-mortem discussion gives everyone the opportunity to say their peace and move on. This is especially critical for projects that go sideways.