Most agencies only run debriefs when something goes wrong, but by that point it’s too late to change the outcome. A better approach is to hold brief, frequent retrospectives every two weeks or at key project milestones. These lightweight discussions help teams make real-time adjustments, stay aligned with client priorities, and prevent issues before they escalate. Over time, this rhythm improves profitability, work quality, employee morale, and client satisfaction.

Agencies lose more margin than they realize through everyday inefficiencies that slow or block value delivery. From excessive meetings to unnecessary revisions and approval bottlenecks, these hidden forms of waste quietly drain profitability, frustrate teams, and weaken client trust. By learning to recognize the patterns, agencies can start minimizing waste and reclaiming both time and margin. Eliminating everything isn’t realistic — but reducing it is transformative.