🤡💻 Code Circus
Step into the Code Circus! Juggle bugs, tame wild features, and laugh together as we decide what acts to start, stop, and keep performing.
Template Columns
🚀🤹♂️ Kickoff Tricks
Identify new fun practices or tools to begin juggling in our development routine.
Base column: Start🛑🤡 Drop the Clowns
Pinpoint silly habits or processes that cause chaos and should be halted.
Base column: Stop🤖🎉 Keep the Laughs
Highlight the comedic rituals and successful tricks we should keep rolling.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A playful, circus‑themed retrospective that helps teams decide what new practices to start, which habits to stop, and what successes to keep.
When to use this template
Use when the team needs a fun, energizing session to surface process improvements and celebrate wins.
How to facilitate
Gather the team in a virtual “big top” and start with a quick ice‑breaker about favorite circus acts
Explain the three columns—Start (new tricks), Stop (chaotic clowns), Continue (successful acts)—and ask participants to think of behaviours, tools, or rituals
Give each person 3–5 minutes in breakout rooms or on a shared whiteboard to write one idea per column, using emojis if they like
Reconvene, have each participant briefly share their items, group similar ideas together, and conduct a quick dot‑vote to prioritize
Discuss the top‑voted items, decide concrete actions, assign owners, and close with a celebratory “finale” chant or GIF
Pro Tips
Use a shared whiteboard with colored sections matching the column colors to keep visual continuity
Limit each contribution to a single sentence to keep the board readable and the discussion focused
Turn the “Stop” column into a light‑hearted “clown‑out” moment by having the speaker make a funny sound effect before sharing
FAQ
What if the team feels the circus theme is too silly?
Explain that the theme is just a framing device to lower barriers; you can keep the language light while focusing on serious outcomes, and switch to a neutral theme if needed.
How do we handle a large number of ideas?
Cluster similar items together during the sharing phase and use dot voting to surface the top three per column, ensuring the discussion stays within the timebox.
What if some participants are reluctant to share in the “Stop” column?
Allow anonymous sticky notes or let them write in a private chat that the facilitator can post, reinforcing that stopping harmful habits is a collective responsibility.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective