🎆 4th of July Jam
Celebrate our project’s independence! Reflect on the sparks that flew, what fizzled out, and how we can keep lighting up the sky together. Let’s set goals for continuous improvement and team fireworks!
Template Columns
🧨 Ignite New Traditions
Share new practices or ideas we should set off to energize our process.
Base column: Start🚫 Douse the Duds
Identify habits or blockers that are putting out our spark and need to be left behind.
Base column: Stop🎇 Keep the Fireworks Going
Highlight what’s lighting up our team and how to keep our best efforts exploding into the future.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The 4th of July Jam retrospective helps your team celebrate recent wins, shed unhelpful habits, and ignite new energy for future sprints. This festive format uses the spirit of Independence Day to foster open feedback and continuous improvement.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective around major project milestones, after overcoming big challenges, or any time the team needs a fresh spark and renewed motivation.
How to facilitate
Set the stage with a quick intro about the 4th of July theme to energize the group and explain each column's purpose.
Give everyone a few minutes to add sticky notes to each column: Ignite New Traditions for new ideas; Douse the Duds for stopping unhelpful habits; and Keep the Fireworks Going for activities and attitudes worth celebrating.
Invite team members to explain their contributions, grouping similar notes and encouraging positive discussion.
Facilitate a team conversation to prioritize the most impactful ideas from each column, focusing especially on new traditions to try and blockers to remove.
Close out the session by identifying concrete action items for new practices to start and old habits to stop, assigning owners for accountability.
Wrap up with a brief recap of themes and express appreciation for each team member’s contributions to keep team spirit soaring.
Pro Tips
Use music or festive visuals to set a celebratory mood and help the team break out of routine thinking.
Encourage storytelling—ask the team to share 'fireworks moments' that inspired them or deserve recognition.
Balance energy by celebrating wins while constructively tackling challenges, ensuring everyone has a voice in each column.
FAQ
What if my team isn’t familiar with the 4th of July?
You can adapt the metaphor to focus on themes of celebration and team breakthroughs, making it approachable for all cultures.
How do I ensure quieter team members participate?
Begin with individual reflection before group discussion and consider anonymous input tools to help everyone share ideas.
Can I use this template outside of July?
Absolutely—the focus on celebration, reflection, and new starts makes it valuable at any time of year.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective