📚 Chapter Review

Step into a literary world and uncover the story of our sprint. Discuss plot twists (challenges), compelling characters (successes), and how to write an even better next chapter.
45-60 min
4-12 people
Based on: Start, Stop, Continue
📚 Chapter Review
Template Columns
✨ Opening New Chapters

Identify new strategies and practices to begin in our next sprint.

Base column: Start
❌ Closing Plot Holes

Highlight the things we should stop doing that aren’t adding value to our story.

Base column: Stop
🔄 Time-Tested Classics

Celebrate the practices and approaches that consistently work well, like cherished book favorites.

Base column: Continue
About this template

The Chapter Review retrospective uses a storytelling metaphor to explore team successes, challenges, and areas for improvement, making it engaging and insightful.

When to use this template

Use this format to align teams on effective practices, address persistent issues, and brainstorm new approaches in a creative and collaborative way.

How to facilitate
1

Begin by introducing the Chapter Review theme and explaining each column’s purpose and its analogy to storytelling.

2

Give team members 5-7 minutes to individually reflect and add notes to each column based on their experiences during the sprint.

3

Review the collected notes for each column together as a group, starting with Opening New Chapters, then Closing Plot Holes, and finishing with Time-Tested Classics.

4

Facilitate a discussion around recurring themes for each column, especially on potential challenges or actionable insights.

5

Collaboratively prioritize and document action items based on the discussions, assigning owners and deadlines for each.

6

Conclude by reflecting on the metaphor. Ask how the group can collaboratively write their next ‘chapter’ more effectively.

Pro Tips

Encourage creative thinking by using the storytelling analogy throughout the retrospective.

Encourage constructive feedback during the discussion to foster a positive atmosphere.

Allocate more time to discussions if team members feel particularly energized on a topic.

FAQ
What if team members are hesitant to contribute ideas?

Warm up with an engaging question or icebreaker to get everyone comfortable.

How can we make the storytelling theme resonate with everyone?

Use relatable examples from popular stories or team-shared experiences.

At a glance
  • Duration

    45-60 min

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Start, Stop, Continue

Tags
team health
reflection
agile
creativity
Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective