🍂 Autumn Adventure

Embrace the spirit of change this Fall! Let’s reflect as a team, shedding what no longer serves us and celebrating our harvests. Together, we’ll prepare for a fruitful season ahead in our agile journey.
45–60 min
4-12 people
Based on: Glad, Sad, Mad
🍂 Autumn Adventure

Template Columns

🍁 Harvested Joys

Share the bountiful successes and things that made you glad this season.

Base column: Glad
🌧️ Fallen Leaves

Reflect on losses or challenges that left you feeling sad as we move into Fall.

Base column: Sad
🍏 Rotten Apples

Vent about frustrations or blockers that made you mad, and let’s clear them away for new growth.

Base column: Mad

About this template

The Autumn Adventure retrospective uses the themes of Fall to help teams celebrate achievements, reflect on losses, and clear out frustrations for a stronger next iteration.

When to use this template

This retrospective is ideal at the end of a cycle or major delivery, especially when the team is facing changes or wants to re-energize for the next phase.

How to facilitate

1

Begin by welcoming the team and introducing the Autumn Adventure theme, inviting everyone to embrace the metaphor of change and renewal.

2

Set the tone by briefly explaining each column—Harvested Joys for successes, Fallen Leaves for challenges, and Rotten Apples for frustrations or blockers.

3

Allow 8–10 minutes for participants to add their reflections to each column individually, encouraging honesty and specificity.

4

Invite everyone to read through the responses and then group similar items together to spot patterns.

5

Facilitate a team discussion for each column, starting with Harvested Joys to celebrate wins, then moving to Fallen Leaves and Rotten Apples to unpack challenges and frustrations.

6

Guide the team to identify 2–3 concrete actions or experiments that address key blockers or losses and reinforce the behaviors behind successes.

7

Wrap up by inviting each team member to share a takeaway or commitment for the next cycle, reinforcing the theme of renewal for the season ahead.

Pro Tips

Use visuals or seasonal background music to make the session more engaging and boost participation.

Encourage quieter members to share by using anonymous submissions or round-robin sharing when reviewing the columns.

Refer back to agreed actions from the last retro to build trust and accountability in the process.

Frame challenges and frustrations as opportunities for learning, keeping the mood constructive even when addressing tough issues.

FAQ

How do I create a safe space for sharing negative experiences?

Make it clear that all input is valued and will be treated constructively. Encourage psychological safety by modeling openness and asking team members to focus feedback on processes rather than individuals.

What if the team only wants to discuss failures and skips celebrating wins?

Start with the Harvested Joys column and invite everyone to share at least one positive outcome, however small. Anchoring in success fosters optimism and momentum.

How can I ensure actionable results from this retrospective?

Summarize discussions into 2–3 concrete actions and assign them to owners before closing. Review progress at your next retro to strengthen follow-through.

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At a glance

  • Duration

    45–60 min

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Glad, Sad, Mad

Tags

team health
reflection
celebration
continuous improvement
collaboration
change
action-oriented

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective