❄️ Arctic Expedition
Bundle up and join our Arctic Expedition! Let’s explore what warmed us up, what left us out in the cold, and how we can build better shelter for our next sprint. Ready to brave the elements together?
Template Columns
🔥 Warm Campfires
Share the moments and practices that kept our spirits high and our project moving forward.
Base column: What Went Well🧊 Icy Patches
Discuss the chilly obstacles or issues that caused us to slip during this sprint.
Base column: What Went Wrong🛷 Better Gear
Suggest how we can prepare better and face the next sprint with improved strategies and teamwork.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Arctic Expedition retrospective blends a fun, wintry theme with practical team reflection on successes, challenges, and improvements.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective after a sprint or project phase, especially when your team energy needs recharging or you want to approach feedback with fresh perspective.
How to facilitate
Kick off with a brief Arctic-themed introduction, setting the tone for open exploration and psychological safety.
Ask team members to add notes to Warm Campfires, highlighting positive moments, teamwork, and practices that fueled motivation.
Invite the team to share their Icy Patches, focusing on obstacles, miscommunications, or anything that disrupted progress.
Move to Better Gear and have everyone suggest concrete strategies or resources that would help overcome similar issues next time.
Facilitate discussion around recurring themes and prioritize a few improvement actions to implement in the next sprint.
Conclude by celebrating team resilience and reinforcing how facing the elements together strengthens your collaboration.
Pro Tips
Encourage storytelling—using vivid Arctic imagery can spark more engaged and honest sharing.
Mix up the order: start with Icy Patches if you sense the team needs to vent before moving to positives.
Check in after the session about how warm or cold teammates feel towards current team processes.
Use visuals or backgrounds related to the Arctic Expedition to create immersion and lighten the atmosphere.
FAQ
How do we encourage honesty about Icy Patches without blame?
Model blameless language and focus discussions on processes, not individuals. Reinforce the expedition metaphor: obstacles are environmental challenges, not personal failings.
What if we get stuck on just one issue in the Icy Patches column?
Acknowledge its importance but use a timer or 'parking lot' approach to keep momentum and ensure all voices and topics are heard.
How do we make the action items from Better Gear stick?
Assign ownership and follow up in the next retrospective, checking progress and adjusting as necessary.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective