Retrospective
A retrospective is a structured reflection that helps teams learn from their experiences and continuously improve. By regularly examining what went well, what didn't, and what to change, teams build a culture of learning and adaptation. The value isn't just in the discussion.it's in the documented actions and follow-through.
When to Use
- At the end of every sprint (for agile teams)
- After completing a significant project or milestone
- Following a major incident or outage
- When team dynamics feel off and need addressing
- At regular intervals (monthly, quarterly) even without specific triggers
- When onboarding new team members to establish improvement culture
Instructions
When asked to facilitate or document a retrospective, follow these steps:
- Set the Context Define what period or project this retrospective covers, who attended, and any significant events that occurred. This frames the discussion and helps future readers understand the context.
- Choose a Format Select a retrospective format that fits the team's needs. Common options include:
- Start/Stop/Continue: Simple and direct - 4Ls: Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed for - Mad/Sad/Glad: Emotion-focused - Sailboat: Visual metaphor (wind=helps, anchor=holds back)
- Gather Input Collect observations from all team members. Ensure everyone contributes.quiet voices often have important insights. Group similar items to identify themes.
- Discuss and Prioritize Don't try to address everything. Focus the discussion on the most impactful items. Vote or discuss to identify the top 2-3 issues to address.
- Define Action Items Convert insights into specific, assignable actions. Every action needs an owner and a due date. Avoid vague improvements like "communicate better."
- Review Previous Actions Check the status of action items from the last retrospective. Celebrate completions and discuss blockers for incomplete items. This builds accountability.
- Document for Future Reference Capture the key points so they're available for future team members and for tracking patterns over time.
Output Format
Use the template in references/TEMPLATE.md to structure the output.
Quality Checklist
Before finalizing, verify:
- All attendees had opportunity to contribute
- Both positives and improvements are captured
- Action items have owners and due dates
- Previous retrospective actions are reviewed
- Document is useful to someone who wasn't in the room
Examples
See references/EXAMPLE.md for a completed example.