🍁📅 Agile October Sprint
Celebrate the crisp momentum of October as we sprint through successes, prune obstacles, and keep the agile fire burning.
Template Columns
🚀 Launch Pad
Identify fresh initiatives to kick off this autumn sprint.
Base column: Start🛑 Fallen Leaves
Spot practices that are wilting and should be dropped.
Base column: Stop🌟 Harvested Gains
Highlight ongoing strengths to nurture and reap.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A seasonal sprint retrospective that launches new initiatives, drops ineffective practices, and reinforces strengths, delivering actions for the next sprint.
When to use this template
Use when the team wants a concise, autumn‑themed review that balances fresh starts with pruning and reinforcing what works.
How to facilitate
Begin with a brief welcome, set the October theme, and explain the three columns: Launch Pad, Fallen Leaves, and Harvested Gains
Ask each participant to write individual sticky notes for each column: new initiatives for Launch Pad, practices to stop for Fallen Leaves, and strengths to continue for Harvested Gains
Collect the notes, group similar ideas on the virtual board, and invite brief discussion to clarify each item
Prioritize items in Launch Pad and Fallen Leaves by voting with colored dots, then decide on concrete actions for the top‑voted items
Summarize the agreed actions, assign owners and due dates, and close with a quick appreciation round reflecting on the October spirit
Pro Tips
Use a timer for each column discussion to keep energy high and prevent over‑analysis
Encourage participants to frame stopped practices as specific behaviors, not personal critiques, to maintain psychological safety
Link each new initiative to a measurable outcome so the team can track its impact in the next sprint
FAQ
What if the team runs out of time to discuss all items?
Focus on the highest‑voted items, capture the rest in a backlog column, and schedule a follow‑up if needed.
How do we handle disagreements on what should be stopped?
Facilitate a quick pros‑cons round, then use a silent vote; if still tied, defer the decision to the next sprint’s planning.
Can this format work for larger teams?
Yes, split the group into smaller pods for the initial note‑writing and grouping phases, then bring representatives together for the final prioritization.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective