🌊🔥🌳💨 Avatar: The Agile Bender

Harness the balance of elements to master agility! Fire up innovation, go with the flow, grow like an earth kingdom tree, and let the winds guide us. Together, we’ll reach harmony in our project journey.
45–60 minutes
4-12 people
Based on: Start, Stop, Continue
🌊🔥🌳💨 Avatar: The Agile Bender
Template Columns
🔥 Ignite the Flame

Propose hot, new ideas or practices to begin implementing.

Base column: Start
💨 Extinguish the Turbulence

Identify practices or patterns that need to stop, like wild winds out of control.

Base column: Stop
🌳 Rooted in Earth

Highlight stable, effective practices that bring grounded results to continue.

Base column: Continue
About this template

The 'Avatar: The Agile Bender' retrospective uses elemental themes to explore four key areas of team enhancement: innovation, stabilization, flow, and improvement.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective when the team is looking for a creative and balanced way to reflect on recent iterations and align future actions with agility.

How to facilitate
1

Begin by introducing the purpose and structure of the retrospective. Explain the elemental themes for fun and framing the session.

2

Set up the collaborative workspace with the three elemental-themed columns following the provided structure.

3

For each column, invite the team to contribute their thoughts and reflections on sticky notes, ensuring succinct and action-oriented contributions.

4

For '🔥 Ignite the Flame,' explore new ideas the team can implement. Discuss why they are compelling and how to prioritize them.

5

In '💨 Extinguish the Turbulence,' identify what practices or patterns should cease. Discuss the reasons and address underlying causes.

6

With '🌳 Rooted in Earth,' acknowledge what practices are working well and should continue. Emphasize these as pillars of team stability.

7

Review all contributions together, discussing, consolidating, and prioritizing items for action planning.

8

Finalize with setting concrete next steps for the most critical themes identified.

Pro Tips

Theme the session with elemental terminology for engagement and creativity.

Ensure each column gets adequate time, so no category dominates the discussion.

Use color-coded sticky notes for each theme to maintain focus and clarity.

FAQ
What if the team feels overwhelmed with ideas in 'Ignite the Flame'?

Prioritize ideas based on impact and feasibility. Select a few actionable ones to avoid over-committing.

How do you ensure honest feedback in 'Extinguish the Turbulence'?

Create a safe environment by emphasizing that the goal is improvement, not blame. Facilitate discussions constructively.

What if no items come up in 'Rooted in Earth'?

Prompt the team by revisiting successful outcomes or practices from the iteration that contributed positively.

Can this format work with smaller teams?

Yes, but allow more time for reflection to ensure all perspectives are considered.

At a glance
  • Duration

    45–60 minutes

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Start, Stop, Continue

Tags
creativity
reflection
team health
continuous improvement
engagement
agility
action-oriented
Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective