🍃🍂 Changing Seasons
Nature’s cycles inspire our agile journey! Reflect on breezy boosts, fallen leaves weighing us down, and fresh steps for a fruitful new season in our teamwork. Let’s grow together!
Template Columns
🍃 Gentle Breezes
Share the uplifting forces and positive changes that have propelled our team forward this season.
Base column: Wind🍁 Fallen Leaves
Discuss the obstacles or lingering issues slowing our progress, much like autumn leaves on the ground.
Base column: Anchors🌱 New Shoots
Suggest actions or innovations to help us thrive as we enter the next phase of our journey.
Base column: ActionsAbout this template
The Changing Seasons retrospective helps teams reflect on positive momentum, surface impediments, and co-create actionable steps for future growth, using a cycle-of-nature metaphor.
When to use this template
Use this format at the end of a cycle, quarter, or major delivery when the team needs to honor progress, clear obstacles, and plan for the next phase together.
How to facilitate
Open the session by framing the seasons metaphor and inviting the team to consider how change and growth apply to your teamwork.
Ask everyone to reflect individually and add notes to the Gentle Breezes column, highlighting recent positives and uplifting changes.
Encourage contributors to add candid thoughts to the Fallen Leaves column, focusing on blockers or issues causing drag.
Move to the New Shoots column and invite the team to brainstorm practical ideas, innovations, or experiments for the next cycle.
Read through all notes as a group, inviting clarification and discussion where needed. Spot patterns or connections between columns.
Prioritize one or two New Shoots for concrete action. Assign owners and discuss next steps to ensure accountability.
End with a quick appreciation or gratitude round, acknowledging what you’re collectively excited to nurture next.
Pro Tips
Use the seasons metaphor to gently address tough topics without blame or negativity.
Encourage quieter members to contribute by starting with private reflection time before group discussion.
When reviewing Fallen Leaves, help the team distinguish between fixable issues and those to simply acknowledge.
If the team struggles to move from reflection to action, propose small experiments under New Shoots rather than large changes.
FAQ
What if my team keeps focusing only on the negatives?
Balance the conversation by celebrating Gentle Breezes first and thanking people for raising concerns; redirect toward solutions in New Shoots.
How do I encourage more creative suggestions in New Shoots?
Ask 'What’s one thing we could try next?' or use brainstorming time limits to boost creativity and avoid overthinking.
What if we have too many Fallen Leaves to address?
Acknowledge all issues, then collectively prioritize which are most urgent or actionable for the next cycle.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Wind, Anchors, Actions
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective