Convergent Debrief Card

What is the Two Minute Debrief and why should I care?
The two minute debrief was developed by Convergent Performance for the airline industry to restore the value and culture of the post mission debriefing. It is typically provided on a small “ID sized card that fits on a lanyard of back of an ID badge for ease of use. After significant research into why the airline cultures were not conducting debriefs even when required by their operational guidance, we discovered that aircrews did not debrief for three primary reasons.

1. The standards for the debrief were not clear
2. The requirements for the debrief tool too much time
3. Post flight debriefing was perceived as a “box ticking” requirement of management with little or no actual benefit

We took these concerns to heart and created a simple, easy to use tool with clear standards, minimum time investment and based upon mutual respect between aircrew rather than compliance with a management directive.

In a nutshell, the Two Minute Debrief requires answers to three questions (and an optional 4th) as a matter of mutual respect between crewmembers.

1. Safety. Were margins of safety eroded at any time during the flight? (As a matter of mutual respect, pilots owe it to each other and their families to be brutally honest in response to this question.)
2. Standards. Were any standards, policies, or procedures compromised? (As a matter of mutual respect, pilots owe it to each other to identify any areas that could cause them a future flight evaluation downgrade or FAA action.)
3. Unresolved Questions. What events prompted questions n our minds that were never adequately answered? (As a matter of mutual respect, pilots don’t want to embarrass themselves in front of peers. Better to get questions answered now than repeat the event in front of others.)
4. Opportunities for Improvement (optional). Where might we have executed at a higher level? (Note this question is optional as it allows for, but does not require, discussion of items that are subjective. However, it does provide the opportunity for a good debrief to continue if the pilots desire it.)

Is it working?
Yes. Evidence from multiple settings has conclusively demonstrated aircrew acceptance and improvements in both the quality and quality of post flight debriefings.

Download the card in PDF format. It may be printed and used by permission received from Convergent Performance.