🛠️ Building Blocks Bonanza
Let’s celebrate our dedication to each incremental step! Stack your stories and lessons like building blocks—what new constructions should we start, remove, or keep sturdy to reach greater heights together?
Template Columns
🧱 Lay the First Brick
Suggest new processes or practices we should begin to build stronger foundations.
Base column: Start🚫 Dismantle Wobbly Walls
Identify habits or hurdles that aren’t supporting our structure and need to be stopped.
Base column: Stop🔗 Reinforce Strong Structures
Highlight what’s working well and should be maintained as our reliable support beams.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
Building Blocks Bonanza focuses on constructing team success by thoughtfully examining what new actions to start, what barriers need removal, and what strong practices are worth reinforcing. It encourages teams to celebrate progress one brick at a time while shaping future improvements together.
When to use this template
Use this format when your team is seeking steady, sustainable improvement and wants to focus on actionable changes that build upon existing work. It's especially effective after completing major phases or when reviewing the effectiveness of recent changes.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by sharing the building blocks theme and encouraging a collaborative, constructive mindset.
Explain each column and ask team members to brainstorm individually: new actions to start (lay a first brick), practices to stop (dismantle wobbly walls), and strengths to keep (reinforce strong structures).
Invite everyone to add their thoughts to the virtual board and review any similar or duplicate items as a group.
Facilitate a discussion around each column, clarifying the intent behind suggestions and prioritizing items that will provide the most impact.
Work together to define next steps for the most important new actions, removal of blockers, and reinforcement of strong practices.
Agree on owners for each action item and decide how progress will be revisited in the next iteration.
Pro Tips
Encourage team members to connect building analogies to real workflow examples for more engaging insights.
Use timeboxing during ideation and discussion to keep energy high and sessions focused.
Celebrate small wins by referencing 'reinforced structures' from previous retros as the team continues to grow.
If too many new ideas surface, group them and vote on what to try first for the next sprint.
FAQ
How do we avoid repeating the same 'bricks' every retrospective?
Regularly review notes from previous sessions and highlight which actions have been added, removed, or reinforced. This keeps content fresh and progress visible.
What if our team struggles to agree on which habits need dismantling?
Facilitate a respectful debate around the pros and cons of sticking with or retiring each practice, and consider running a quick vote to reach consensus.
How can we ensure action items are followed up after the retro?
Assign clear owners and check-in dates for each action—integrate these into your regular standup or workflow to reinforce accountability.
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At a glance
- Duration
35–50 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