☣️ Apocalypse Now
Welcome to survival mode! In this post-apocalyptic retrospective, let’s assess what’s helping us thrive, what’s holding us back, and how we can rebuild even stronger together. Ready to outlast any project catastrophe? Let’s survive and thrive!
Template Columns
🌱 Seeds of Renewal (Start)
Identify new habits, tools, or experiments that can spark our team's rebirth and growth.
Base column: Start🧟 Block the Zombies (Stop)
Call out habits or processes that are dragging the team down like relentless zombies—let’s end them!
Base column: Stop💡 Fortify the Safehouse (Continue)
Highlight the practices, relationships, and strengths that keep our team resilient and safe.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Apocalypse Now retrospective helps teams identify what drives positive change, what must be stopped, and which practices make them resilient, all framed in a creative survival context.
When to use this template
Use this format after a challenging sprint, major change, or when team morale needs a boost. It's perfect for teams seeking a fresh, engaging way to find improvement opportunities and reinforce strengths.
How to facilitate
Set the scene by introducing the post-apocalyptic theme, inviting the team to view recent work as a survival scenario.
Briefly review the meaning of each column and encourage creative thinking within the theme.
Give individual time for everyone to add their thoughts to each column: what to start (Seeds of Renewal), what to stop (Block the Zombies), and what to continue (Fortify the Safehouse).
Review and discuss each column as a team, exploring why certain items were added and grouping similar ideas.
Facilitate prioritized voting or consensus on the most vital items in each column.
Create concrete actions based on team decisions, focusing on implementing new ideas, eliminating blockers, and reinforcing strengths.
Close by appreciating everyone's input and asking how the survival mindset helped surface new perspectives.
Pro Tips
Lean into the theme to energize the discussion and help the team detach from stress.
Prompt quieter participants by asking, 'If you could change one thing for our survival, what would it be?'
For each 'zombie' to block, ask the team how it has affected morale or delivery.
End with an action plan that includes small wins to quickly improve team confidence.
FAQ
How do I keep the theme from becoming distracting?
Use the theme as a creative prompt, but balance humor with focus. Regularly steer conversation back to actionable insights.
What if team members hesitate to share blockers?
Frame the discussion as a team survival exercise—remind everyone that honesty helps the whole team thrive.
How do we ensure actions get followed up after the retro?
Assign clear owners to each action and review progress at your next team meeting or stand-up.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–60 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