AQ Framework in Action

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

Most teams want to improve. Few build the habits that make improvement inevitable.

We’ve all seen it: companies spend thousands on training, only to watch new skills evaporate within weeks. Why? Because the real battleground isn’t in the workshop—it’s in the day-to-day rhythm where habits either stick or slip.

From Theory to Team DNA

The AQ™ (Application Quotient™) framework isn’t just a learning philosophy; it’s a practical system for embedding behavior change into the bloodstream of your team. Unlike programs that measure knowledge retention, AQ measures application—the consistent actions that turn learning into results.

Here’s how I've applied it in teams I've lead in the past to move from “knowing” to “doing”:

• Monday Mindset Check: Every week, each team member shares one AQ-driven action they’ll apply. In other words, "I've learned something new that I think will help X. This week I will apply that knowledge to Y and see if it yields the expected benefits."

• Midweek Micro-Wins: Quick huddles to celebrate progress and troubleshoot obstacles. Team members would reflect on either difficulties in implementation, disappointments in perceived benefits, or of course, wow, this is changing my world.

• Friday Reflection: Teams review what worked, what didn’t, and commit to one adjustment. In L&D we have ADDIE that ends in Evaluation, with the hope is to return to the top and Analyze again. This is similar, with fewer iterations. Ultimately, the goal is to peg the learning as valuable and implement it. Not reconstruct and reinvent it.

In the end, this rhythm turns training into transformation.

“Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso

AQ Habits in the Wild: Real-World Use Cases

1. Sales Team: In my recent foray into selling, instead of more product knowledge sessions, I've tracked what I call my weekly “AQ Actions” (like practicing one new objection-handling technique per day). My close rates have improved 12% in 3 months.

2. HR Department: When I applied AQ practices to our onboarding training. Each new hire committed to one “learning-to-action” habit and reported that commitment to their new manager. Result? 30% faster ramp-up time, not to mention significantly more time for managers to do manager things.

3. Leadership Team: Lastly, I've used AQ’s reflection rhythm to turn feedback into an iterative growth process. This had the effect of boosting team trust scores by 18% as leader leader-backed action became more transparent.

How to Make It Stick

1. Start Small. Pick one AQ habit and master it before layering more.

2. Make it Visible. Use an AQ Team Habits Tracker to monitor progress (see below).

3. Celebrate Micro-Wins. Reinforcement > reminders.

4. Leverage AI as a Coach. Tools like ChatGPT can help teams brainstorm applications, track progress, and keep habits aligned with real goals.

The AQ Team Habits Tracker

Recreate the following in a shared Google Sheet or your project management tool:

Practical Takeaway: Stop treating training as an event. Make it a rhythm. With the AQ mindset, every meeting, huddle, and debrief becomes a lab for growth.