👾 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Board
Step into the world of scares and surprises! Let's uncover our team's monstrous successes, spook away problems, and keep the good scares rolling as we perfect our frightful project together.
Template Columns
🧪 Start Brewing New Tricks
Suggest creative new scares or approaches we should begin experimenting with.
Base column: Start🚫 Stop Ghoulish Glitches
Identify frightful habits or mishaps that terrify our progress and need to be stopped.
Base column: Stop🎉 Continue Creeping with Confidence
Share the eerie processes or teamwork ways that make our project monstrously good and should keep haunting us.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Board retrospective encourages teams to creatively explore new ideas, stop unhelpful behaviors, and reinforce successful practices inspired by the theme of scares and surprises.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective when the team needs a fresh, energetic approach to reflect on workflows, especially after dynamic project phases or when creativity needs a boost.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by briefly explaining the monster-themed concept and goals of each column to foster an open, playful mindset.
Allow each team member a few minutes to silently add their thoughts to each column: suggest bold experiments in Start Brewing New Tricks, call out blockers in Stop Ghoulish Glitches, and celebrate reliable wins in Continue Creeping with Confidence.
Invite everyone to present their contributions aloud or read them anonymously, encouraging context and story sharing behind each note.
Group similar items together in each column to identify common patterns or urgent issues.
Collaboratively brainstorm concrete actions for starting new approaches, stopping harmful habits, and sustaining positive behaviors.
Prioritize the top actions or changes, assign owners, and agree on what to carry forward to the next sprint or cycle.
Conclude with a quick round where each participant shares their biggest surprise or insight from the session.
Pro Tips
Lean into the playful theme to lower barriers and encourage bolder, more creative suggestions.
Keep discussions time-boxed per column to maintain energy and focus, especially with larger teams.
Invite quieter team members to contribute anonymously via written notes before group discussion starts.
Reference previous retrospectives to track which habits were successfully stopped or started.
Wrap up by revisiting action items next retro to create accountability and highlight progress.
FAQ
What if team members struggle with the playful theme?
Encourage everyone to focus on the core purpose behind each column, while the theme is there to spark creativity, not to exclude anyone. Adjust tone to keep things comfortable.
How do we avoid the retro turning into just venting?
Actively guide discussions toward solutions and learning, not just problem surfacing, especially in the Stop Ghoulish Glitches column.
What can I do if the same issues appear every time?
Highlight recurring problems as priorities for action planning, and assign owners to drive follow-up before the next retrospective.
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At a glance
- Duration
35–50 min
- Team Size
3-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective