❄️🌨️ Blizzard Bash
Brace yourselves for a frosty adventure! Dive into the blizzard retro, where we melt challenges, freeze setbacks, and chart a crystal-clear path forward.
Template Columns
❄️❄️ Spark the Snowfall
Identify new actions to kick off our icy momentum.
Base column: Start🧊 Stop the Iceberg
Highlight practices that are causing a chill in progress.
Base column: Stop❄️ Continue the Blizzard
Maintain the strategies that keep us moving smoothly through the storm.
Base column: Continue🌬️ Change the Wind
Propose adjustments to navigate the blizzard more effectively.
Base column: ChangeAbout this template
A high‑energy retro that helps teams melt obstacles, stop chilling practices, keep the momentum flowing, and adjust the wind for smoother progress.
When to use this template
Use when the team feels stuck in recurring issues or needs a fresh, dynamic way to prioritize actions.
How to facilitate
Begin with a quick ice‑breaker that ties into the blizzard theme and ask the team to recall key moments from the last sprint.
In the ‘Spark the Snowfall’ column, participants write new actions that could generate fresh momentum, then share and cluster similar ideas.
Move to ‘Stop the Iceberg’ where everyone notes practices that are slowing progress, discuss briefly to surface root causes.
In ‘Continue the Blizzard’ capture the strategies that are working well and should be kept unchanged.
For ‘Change the Wind’ brainstorm adjustments or experiments to improve flow, encouraging bold suggestions.
Vote silently on the top two items in each column using dot voting or a digital poll, then assign owners and due dates.
Close with a rapid round: each person shares one takeaway from the retro and a personal commitment for the next sprint.
Pro Tips
Use a timer for each column to keep discussions focused and prevent over‑analysis.
Allow anonymous sticky notes for sensitive issues to ensure honest input.
Group similar ideas visually on the board before voting to reduce clutter and highlight patterns.
FAQ
What if the team runs out of ideas for new actions?
Prompt with specific questions such as ‘What could we start doing tomorrow?’ or use a quick round‑robin to ensure every voice contributes.
How do we handle dominant voices that steer the conversation?
Set a clear rule that each person speaks once per column before anyone repeats, and use the timer to enforce equal participation.
Can this retro be shortened for a 30‑minute session?
Yes—focus only on the most critical column (e.g., Stop the Iceberg) or limit voting to one top item per column to fit a tighter schedule.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
4 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue, Change
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective