🚀 Blast Off! Launch Retrospective
Prepare for launch, crew! Reflect on our sprint as a rocket mission—identify crucial preps to start, boosters to cut, and systems to keep running smoothly as we aim for the stars! Let’s fuel our next journey with new insights.
Template Columns
🧑🚀 Pre-Launch Procedures
Share new actions or habits we should initiate for a more successful mission ahead.
Base column: Start🛰️ Jettison Dead Weight
Identify blockers or practices to abandon, so our project can soar higher and faster.
Base column: Stop🪐 Mission-Critical Systems
Highlight proven processes and team strengths that should remain in orbit for sustained success.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Blast Off! Launch Retrospective uses a space mission theme to help teams reflect on recent work, identify new actions, eliminate inefficiencies, and confirm what’s working well to fuel future success.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective after a sprint, release, or project milestone when the team wants a structured yet energizing way to boost learning and performance for upcoming work.
How to facilitate
Welcome the team, introduce the space mission theme, and explain each column’s role—encouraging crew mindset to set an engaging tone.
Give everyone a few minutes of quiet reflection to brainstorm notes for each column: Pre-Launch Procedures (start), Jettison Dead Weight (stop), and Mission-Critical Systems (continue).
Invite team members to add their insights to the virtual board, using concise statements for clarity.
Facilitate a group discussion column by column, clustering similar items and delving deeper with clarifying questions as needed.
As a group, prioritize action items, focusing first on critical changes for the next sprint or project phase.
Assign clear owners and timelines for each action, confirming everyone understands next steps to ensure real follow-through.
Wrap up with a quick round of appreciations or 'celebration moments' to maintain morale and team connection.
Pro Tips
Tie each column to relevant project phases (like preparation, in-flight adjustments, and ongoing systems) to help participants relate experiences easily.
Encourage storytelling and visuals (like rocket metaphors) to make insights memorable and foster engagement.
Use pre-filled starter examples for each column to spark ideas, especially for teams new to this format.
Keep discussion balanced so each team member feels heard—rotate who leads each column’s exchange if needed.
FAQ
How should I encourage participation if teammates are hesitant to share?
Prompt with relatable examples or gently call on quieter voices, ensuring a safe space where all ideas are valued. Emphasize the fun, exploratory nature of the theme to lower barriers.
What if too many issues come up in the 'Jettison Dead Weight' column?
Help the team prioritize the most impactful obstacles—address urgent problems immediately and backlog the rest for future review.
How do we turn observations into real change after the retrospective?
Assign each actionable item a clear owner, define a timeframe, and revisit progress in future retrospectives to maintain accountability.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–55 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