Sprint Retro Templates: How to Run Effective Retrospectives

Let's face it, the sprint retrospective: it's that meeting where we all gather to reflect on what went well, what went wrong, and what we can do better next time. It's a crucial part of the agile process, but let's be honest, it can also be a bit of a drag.

But fear not! We're here to bring the fun (and the productivity) back to your sprint retrospectives.

We've created a collection of sprint retro templates designed to make your retrospectives engaging and insightful.

Why Use Sprint Retro Templates?

Think of a sprint retro template as a road map for your retrospective meeting. It's a framework that helps you stay focused, keep things moving, and get the most out of your team's time.

Templates provide structure, encouraging constructive discussions and preventing the meeting from becoming a mindless brainstorming session.

Sprint Retro Templates: A Variety of Options

There are several popular sprint retro templates, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few you can try out:

1. The Start, Stop, Continue Template: A Classic Choice

This is the most popular sprint retro template and for good reason. It's simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. Here's how it works:

Start: Brainstorm things that went well or that the team would like to see more of.
Stop: Identify things that weren't working well and need to be stopped or improved upon.
Continue: List things that the team would like to continue doing.

This template is a great starting point for teams of all sizes and experience levels.

2. The Mad, Sad, Glad Template: Emotional Intelligence

This template adds a layer of emotional intelligence to your retrospective. It's a great way to help team members express their feelings about the sprint, which can lead to more insightful discussions. Here's how it works:

Mad: Share things that frustrated or angered the team during the sprint.
Sad: Discuss things that made the team feel disappointed or disheartened.
Glad: List things that made the team happy or proud.

This template can be especially helpful for teams that are struggling to identify and address root causes of frustration or negativity.

3. The 4Ls Template: Digging Deeper

This template encourages teams to think about their learnings and how to apply them to future sprints. It's a great way to move beyond simply identifying problems and start focusing on solutions. Here's how it works:

Learned: List the key things the team learned during the sprint.
Liked: Share things that the team enjoyed or found positive.
Lacked: Identify what the team felt was missing during the sprint.
Longed for: Discuss what the team would like to see happen in future sprints.