👑✨ Cinderella’s Enchanted Ball
Step into the magical ballroom! Like Cinderella, let's transform challenges into opportunities, discover what sparkles (and what doesn't), and ensure our team’s story has a happily-ever-after ending. Ready for some fairy-tale feedback?
Template Columns
🪄 Fairy Godmother’s Wishes (Start)
Share new magical ideas or practices to introduce, just like the Fairy Godmother’s enchanting solutions.
Base column: Start⏳ Lost Slippers (Stop)
Identify what’s holding us back or causing challenges—like losing a slipper at midnight—that we should leave behind.
Base column: Stop🎆 Happily Ever Afters (Continue)
Highlight what’s working well and should keep shining—our team’s happily-ever-afters!
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Cinderella’s Enchanted Ball retrospective transforms team challenges into opportunities, celebrates successes, and uncovers new ways to keep your story moving forward.
When to use this template
Use this format when your team needs a boost of positivity, wants to break routine with a creative spin, or after completing a big milestone when reflecting on both struggles and wins.
How to facilitate
Set the mood by introducing the Cinderella fairy-tale theme and explain how each column relates to the story and team growth.
Give everyone a few moments to reflect silently, then invite the team to add notes to each column: new ideas in Fairy Godmother’s Wishes, blockers in Lost Slippers, and strengths in Happily Ever Afters.
Allow time for silent reading before starting a group discussion; explore each column, asking clarifying questions and encouraging connection between ideas.
Prioritize key items in each column—vote as a team to decide which wishes to act on, which slippers matter most to leave behind, and which practices to carry forward.
Agree on concrete next steps, assign owners for actions, and close by reflecting on the team’s progress toward a ‘happily ever after.’
Pro Tips
Lean into the theme with fun backgrounds or music to spark creativity without distracting the team.
Encourage storytelling—ask team members to share real stories linked to each column for deeper insight.
Remind everyone all wishes are welcome, even small or ‘unrealistic’ ideas—they can inspire valuable changes.
Use timeboxes during discussions to keep energy high and avoid focusing too long on challenges.
Celebrate progress by calling out actions completed from the previous retrospective.
FAQ
What if my team is unfamiliar with the Cinderella story?
Quickly explain the column concepts and their fairy-tale inspiration; the key ideas—starting new things, stopping blockers, and continuing wins—are universal.
How do I keep the theme fun but not distracting?
Set expectations at the start: reference the theme for creativity but keep discussions focused on constructive feedback and actions.
What if we have too many wishes or lost slippers?
Use dot voting to prioritize items and focus on those that will make the biggest immediate impact.
How should we handle negative feedback in the 'Lost Slippers' column?
Encourage honest sharing but steer the conversation toward constructive solutions and how the team can support one another moving forward.
At a glance
- Duration
40–55 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