🛰️🐒 Cosmic Monkey Expedition
Blast off into the cosmos with our space‑bound primates, celebrating stellar successes, navigating asteroid‑sized setbacks, and charting a brighter orbit for our next sprint.
Template Columns
🚀 Stellar Achievements
Highlight the high‑flying wins that propelled our mission forward.
Base column: What Went Well🛸 Cosmic Glitches
Identify the space‑dust obstacles that slowed our trajectory.
Base column: What Went Wrong🌌 Orbit Optimizations
Plan adjustments to keep our crew on a smoother orbital path.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
A fun, space‑themed retrospective that celebrates wins, surfaces setbacks, and creates actionable improvements for the next sprint.
When to use this template
Use when the team needs an energizing, creative format to reflect on a sprint and generate clear improvement actions.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by reminding the team of the mission theme and the three columns: Stellar Achievements, Cosmic Glitches, Orbit Optimizations
Give each participant 3–5 minutes to silently add sticky notes to the appropriate column in the virtual board, using emojis or icons if desired
Group similar items together by clustering related notes in each column, encouraging brief discussion to clarify meaning
Vote on the most impactful Stellar Achievements and Cosmic Glitches using dot voting or reaction emojis
Facilitate a focused conversation on the top‑voted glitches, exploring root causes and possible solutions
Turn the highest‑priority Orbit Optimizations into concrete action items, assign owners, and set due dates before closing the retro
Pro Tips
Limit each participant to a maximum of three items per column to keep the board concise and discussion focused
Encourage the use of vivid space metaphors in the notes to maintain the theme and boost engagement
Capture action items directly in the board’s Orbit Optimizations column with a checklist so remote members can track progress
FAQ
What if we run out of time before covering all items?
Prioritize the highest‑voted items and defer lower‑priority notes to a follow‑up chat or the next retro.
How can we prevent dominant voices from steering the conversation?
Use timed speaking turns or a round‑robin format during the discussion of each column to give everyone equal airtime.
Is this format suitable for non‑technical teams?
Absolutely; the space theme is a neutral metaphor that works for any group looking to celebrate successes and plan improvements.
What tools work best for the virtual board?
Platforms like Miro, Mural, or the Kollabe board with sticky note and emoji support work well for this format.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 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