The Alpine Expedition retrospective invites your team to reflect on challenges and progress by framing your journey as a collective climb. Together, you'll identify actions to start, stop, and continue in order to reach your next project summit.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective when your team needs a motivating, adventure-themed way to tackle big goals or after sprinting through a demanding project phase. It's especially engaging during project milestones or when you’re seeking renewed energy and direction.

How to facilitate

Kick off with a brief introduction explaining the mountaineering theme and the goal of reaching project summits together.

Ask everyone to individually add reflections and ideas in each column: Trailblazing Steps to Start, Avalanches to Stop, and Campsites to Continue.

After all ideas are on the board, invite the team to group similar items and clarify any unclear points together.

Lead a discussion on each column, allowing team members to elaborate and share their perspectives, focusing on impactful actions.

Prioritize concrete actions from the Start and Stop columns and acknowledge the positives in the Continue column.

Finalize the session by deciding ownership of the top action items and set a date to revisit progress.

Wrap up by celebrating the team's climb so far and encouraging curiosity for the next expedition.

Pro Tips

Tie feedback to real scenarios from the past iteration to create shared understanding.

Encourage quieter voices by inviting each person to share at least one insight for each column.

Keep the mountain metaphor present to maintain engagement and positivity.

Review outcomes from previous retros to connect past learnings with the current discussion.

FAQ

What if the team struggles to suggest bold new 'trailblazing' steps?

Prompt the team with questions like 'What’s a small risk worth taking?' or share examples to inspire creative thinking.

How do we handle a large number of items in the 'Avalanches to Stop' column?

Ask the team to vote on the most critical blockers and focus discussion and actions on the top priorities for more manageable improvements.

How can we keep the mountain metaphor consistent throughout the retro?

Reference mountain climbing terms and analogies during the session and encourage team members to frame their input using the expedition language.

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-12 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🏔️ Alpine Expedition

Gear up for a daring trek across the majestic Alpines! As a team, let’s navigate snowy peaks and deep valleys, learning from each step to reach new project heights together. Ready your climbing gear—let’s conquer our next summit!

Template Columns

🧗‍♂️ Trailblazing Steps to Start

🛑 Avalanches to Stop

🏕️ Campsites to Continue

About this template