Hansei: The Art of Self-Reflection with the Power to Transform Operations

With the new year, many organizations take time to reflect on the past and plan for the year ahead. In Lean practices, several tools help structure this work. Hoshin Kanri provides a framework for setting and cascading strategic objectives, Catchball encourages back-and-forth dialogue between management and frontline teams, and Yokoten shares lessons horizontally across an organization. Yet none of these practices would be effective without a foundational habit: Hansei, the practice of personal reflection.

Hansei, a Japanese term meaning “self-reflection” or “introspection,” is a disciplined habit of honestly examining your own actions, decisions, and contributions to understand why outcomes happened and how they can be improved. Unlike post-mortems that focus on assigning blame, Hansei emphasizes learning, accountability, and turning insights into actionable improvements.

To practice Hansei, individuals ask themselves questions such as:

• What could I have done differently to improve the outcome?

• Where did I fall short, and what am I accountable for?

• What did I learn from this experience that I can apply next time?

• What specific changes will I make to do better in the future?

Hansei is less about a single reflection and more about cultivating a mindset: noticing, questioning, and learning from your own actions continuously. By reflecting not only on mistakes but also on what went well, Hansei encourages learning from all operations, helping individuals and teams capture insights that might otherwise be overlooked. Over time, this habit builds continuous improvement, self-awareness, and better decision-making.

Note: Awareness is our strongest ally against cognitive biases that can skew judgment and decision-making.

Applying Hansei in Aviation

In aviation, where attention to detail, safety, and efficiency is critical, Hansei is especially valuable. For example, after a morning aircraft turnaround, a ground crew member noticed a slight delay in baggage loading. Through Hansei, she reflected on her role, the tools used, and communication with colleagues. Her insights helped the team adjust the sequence for the next flight, reducing delays and improving coordination.

Similarly, a pilot may reflect after each flight on what went smoothly—such as decision-making during boarding or communication with the crew—and what could be improved in future flights. Maintenance engineers can review inspection processes, noting procedural efficiencies or unexpected challenges.

Although Hansei begins as personal reflection, the insights gained can naturally feed team and organizational improvement. When individuals share their observations with colleagues or supervisors, lessons learned can be applied more broadly, leading to better processes, safer operations, and increased efficiency.

Making Hansei a Habit

Hansei is most effective when practiced consistently. Post-operation debriefs, daily briefings, and project reviews are opportunities for individuals to reflect. Consider starting each shift with a brief moment of Hansei: reflect on yesterday’s performance, note one thing to improve, and share one insight with your team. By asking questions like “What did I learn?” and “How can I do it better next time?”, employees develop a personal habit of continuous improvement.

Repeated over time, personal reflection builds the foundation for continuous improvement—small, individual insights accumulate into safer, more efficient, and more reliable operations. As reflections are shared and applied, personal insights become collective knowledge, supporting stronger teams and more reliable operations. In this way, Hansei forms the foundation of a culture where learning and improvement are embedded in everyday work.

Why Hansei Matters

In aviation, the stakes are high. Mistakes can have serious consequences, and small inefficiencies can ripple across operations. Hansei provides a structured way for individuals to learn from experience, understand why processes succeed or fail, and make adjustments accordingly.

Ultimately, Hansei turns reflection into action. By fostering personal reflection and encouraging the sharing of insights, it builds a culture of continuous improvement paving the way toward operational excellence.

Lead Change with Lean Expertise

Gain the skills to lead teams, optimize processes, and drive measurable improvements with The Lean Airline™ Leader program.

11 hours | 8 courses | 6 months access | Self-paced e-Learning