Retrospective Templates – Find the Right Fit for Your Team

Retrospectives are an essential practice for teams looking to improve continuously. Choosing the right format can help drive more meaningful discussions and actionable insights. Below, we’ve outlined different retrospective templates and when to use them.

Popular Retrospective Templates

📌 1. Classic Retrospectives

A simple, time-tested format focusing on what went well, what didn’t, and what can be improved.

• Best for: Teams new to retrospectives or looking for a structured but straightforward approach.
• Format:
  • ✅ What went well?
  • ❌ What didn’t go well?
  • 🔄 What should we change next time?

🚀 2. Start, Stop, Continue

Encourages teams to reflect on ongoing practices and future improvements.

• Best for: Identifying behaviors or processes that need to change.
• Format:
  • 🏁 Start: What should we start doing?
  • ✋ Stop: What should we stop doing?
  • 🔄 Continue: What’s working well that we should keep?

🎯 3. 4Ls Retrospective (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For)

A balanced format that focuses on team experience.

• Best for: Deeper reflection on personal and team growth.
• Format:
  • 💙 Liked: What did we enjoy?
  • 📚 Learned: What did we learn?
  • ❌ Lacked: What was missing?
  • 🌟 Longed For: What do we wish had happened?

📊 4. Mad, Sad, Glad

A great way to check in on team morale while gathering insights.

• Best for: Understanding emotional responses to a sprint or project.
• Format:
  • 😠 Mad: What frustrated us?
  • 😞 Sad: What disappointed us?
  • 😊 Glad: What made us happy?

🛠 5. Sailboat Retrospective

A metaphor-driven template to explore what’s driving the team forward and what’s holding them back.

• Best for: Visual thinkers or teams looking for a creative approach.
• Format:
  • ⛵ Sail (What's propelling us forward?)
  • ⚓ Anchor (What’s slowing us down?)
  • 🌊 Rocks (Potential risks ahead)
  • 🎯 Island (Goals we want to reach)

📝 How to Use These Templates in Retrospectives by Harmony

1. Choose a Template – Pick the format that best suits your team’s needs.
2. Set Up in Slack – Use Retrospectives by Harmony to run async or real-time retrospectives.
3. Encourage Participation – Ensure everyone shares their insights openly.
4. Turn Insights into Action – Use feedback to define concrete next steps.

📖 For a deeper dive into retrospective formats, check out our full guide here.

Contacting with Harmony team