The Alaskan Expedition retrospective invites teams to reflect on successes, obstacles, and improvement opportunities using a wild adventure theme that sparks engagement and collaborative problem-solving.

When to use this template

Use this format when you want to energize your team after a challenging project or sprint, especially when morale needs a boost or your team has weathered unpredictable changes.

How to facilitate

Introduce the Alaskan Expedition theme and explain each column: Summit Successes for victories, Blizzards & Whiteouts for challenges, and Trail Improvements for future ideas.

Invite team members to add their reflections to each column, encouraging everyone to contribute to all three areas.

Give participants time to review and read through the contributions, either silently or with brief self-introductions for each note.

Facilitate a group discussion to explore key themes from each column, celebrating wins, unpacking obstacles, and clustering similar improvement suggestions.

Guide the team to prioritize the most impactful Trail Improvements and collaboratively agree on specific action items for the next sprint or project phase.

Wrap up by acknowledging the team's resilience and adaptability, connecting the theme back to their shared journey.

Pro Tips

Use visual icebreaker questions related to an expedition (e.g., ‘What’s your trail name today?’) to help the team get into the theme.

Encourage storytelling—ask team members to share the story or journey behind each ‘summit’ or ‘blizzard’.

Translate ‘Trail Improvements’ into concrete, bite-sized actions rather than broad goals.

Mix up the facilitation with breakout rooms for discussing particularly tough blizzards if the group is large.

FAQ

How do I keep the team engaged if they aren’t familiar with the expedition theme?

Offer a quick introduction and share why you chose this theme, relating it to your team's recent journey. Focus on the metaphor to foster curiosity and fun.

What if the same improvement ideas come up repeatedly?

Cluster similar ideas and challenge the team to brainstorm new or creative angles. Ask what specifically has prevented action on repeated themes in the past.

How do I manage negativity in the Blizzards & Whiteouts column?

Acknowledge frustrations and keep the conversation constructive by shifting focus from problems to solutions, emphasizing the opportunity for growth.

Want a custom template?

Create a retrospective template tailored to your team's needs with our AI-powered generator

Try AI Template Generator

At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-12 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

❄️🌲 Alaskan Expedition

Bundle up! It’s time to reflect on our journey through the wilds of project Alaska. Celebrate our peaks, navigate blizzards, and chart new trails for future expeditions. Let’s brave the elements together and ensure our team thrives in any climate!

Template Columns

🏔️ Summit Successes

🌨️ Blizzards & Whiteouts

🦌 Trail Improvements

About this template