🐝 Buzzing with Improvement
Welcome to the hive! Let’s reflect on our sprint like busy bees—celebrate the nectar we gathered, spot the stings, and plan to build an even stronger hive together!
Template Columns
🍯 Sweet Nectar
Share the successes and teamwork moments that made our hive thrive this sprint.
Base column: What Went Well🐝 Bee Stings
Reflect on the challenges or obstacles that disrupted our honey-making process.
Base column: What Went Wrong🏗️ Building a Stronger Hive
Suggest ways we can improve our workflow and collaboration for a more productive hive.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Buzzing with Improvement retrospective uses bee-themed prompts to help teams celebrate achievements, acknowledge challenges, and gather ideas for continuous improvement.
When to use this template
This engaging format is perfect at the end of sprints or milestones, especially when the team needs a fresh, playful approach to feedback and growth.
How to facilitate
Set the scene by welcoming everyone to the hive and explaining the bee-themed columns to create a positive and collaborative atmosphere.
Ask team members to add notes under Sweet Nectar, prompting them to think of specific successes and positive moments from the sprint.
Guide the team to reflect on the Bee Stings column, encouraging honest acknowledgment of obstacles or pain points experienced.
Invite the group to propose actions for Building a Stronger Hive by suggesting improvements or new approaches to try as a team.
Cluster similar notes together in each column and facilitate a short discussion around highlights, patterns, or notable insights.
Work together to choose 2–3 improvement actions and assign clear owners and follow-up plans.
End the session by celebrating the team's collaboration and reaffirming commitment to continuous learning.
Pro Tips
Use upbeat music or visuals related to bees to lighten the mood and stimulate creativity.
Encourage quieter team members to share by offering asynchronous input before the meeting.
Relate action items back to specific stings identified by the team to maintain focus.
Allow time for everyone to share at least one sweet nectar item to kick off with positivity.
Rotate facilitation roles so all voices have a chance to lead and energize the format.
FAQ
What if the team only focuses on negative feedback?
Start with Sweet Nectar to set a positive tone and remind everyone of progress before moving to challenges.
How can we avoid repeating the same improvement actions each time?
Review previous hives and stings, and encourage specific, fresh ideas that address root causes rather than symptoms.
Can this template work with non-software teams?
Yes, its focus on collaboration, success, and improvement makes it suitable for any team-based environment.
What if some team members are remote and others are in person?
Use a shared digital board for capturing feedback, and ensure all voices are included equally, either verbally or in writing.
At a glance
- Duration
40–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective