🤝 Buddy Boost Retro

Team up like best friends! In this buddy‑themed retro we’ll launch new collaborations, ditch solo habits, and keep the camaraderie that powers our sprint success.
45–60 min
4-12 people
Based on: Start, Stop, Continue
🤝 Buddy Boost Retro

Template Columns

🚀 Start Buddy Partnerships

Identify fresh ways to pair up and begin collaborative efforts.

Base column: Start
🛑 Stop Lone Wolf Moves

Highlight habits that isolate work and agree to halt them.

Base column: Stop
🤝 Continue Buddy Wins

Celebrate and sustain the teamwork practices that boost our flow.

Base column: Continue

About this template

A buddy‑focused retro that surfaces new pairings, stops solo habits, and reinforces successful collaborations.

When to use this template

Use when the team wants to strengthen collaboration, break down silos, or onboard new pairings after a sprint.

How to facilitate

1

Set the stage by reminding the purpose of buddy partnerships and establishing a safe, supportive environment

2

Ask each participant to think of one colleague they could pair with for a new initiative and place that idea on a virtual sticky in the Start column

3

In the Stop column have everyone note habits or behaviors that keep work isolated and discuss why they hinder teamwork

4

Move to the Continue column where participants add examples of recent collaborations that worked well and why

5

Group similar items and use dot voting to select the top two items in each column

6

Agree on concrete actions: assign buddy pairs, define how to eliminate the stopped habits, and plan to repeat successful practices in the next sprint

Pro Tips

Pair people with complementary skills to maximize learning and impact

Set a timer for each column to keep discussion focused and timeboxed

Capture action items in a shared board and assign clear owners

Celebrate small wins immediately after the retro to reinforce the new behaviors

FAQ

How do we choose who partners with whom?

Consider complementary skills, current workload, and personal development goals; let the team suggest pairings and vote on the most promising ones.

What if someone feels uncomfortable being paired with a particular teammate?

Encourage open dialogue in the Start column and allow alternative suggestions; the goal is voluntary collaboration, not forced pairing.

How many items should we aim for in each column?

Target 3–5 high‑impact items per column to keep the conversation focused while still generating actionable ideas.

How do we ensure the agreed actions are followed up?

Add the actions to the sprint backlog with owners and review progress in the next retro’s check‑in segment.

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At a glance

  • Duration

    45–60 min

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Start, Stop, Continue

Tags

collaboration
team building
action-oriented
pair programming
agile

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective