🐘🎪 Dumbo’s Circus Soar
Step right up! Join Dumbo and the circus crew as we discover what helps us soar high, what weighs us down, and how we can keep flying together. Let’s make our project a spectacular show!
Template Columns
🎈 Lift-Off Ideas (Start)
Suggest new actions or habits that could help our team soar like Dumbo taking flight.
Base column: Start🎪 Drop the Weights (Stop)
Identify things holding us back, like Dumbo’s feather, that we should leave behind.
Base column: Stop🌟 Keep Flying High (Continue)
Highlight effective practices and positive habits that keep our team performing like a top act.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
Dumbo’s Circus Soar retrospective helps teams reflect on what lifts them up, what holds them back, and how to keep flying together using a fun and imaginative circus theme.
When to use this template
This format is ideal when your team needs a fresh perspective, some fun, and an opportunity to realign around strengths and challenges—especially after a period of heavy work or stress.
How to facilitate
Begin with a brief introduction, setting the circus theme and explaining the meaning behind each column and why you’ve chosen this template.
Give everyone a few minutes of quiet time to individually add their thoughts to each column, encouraging honest and imaginative input.
Invite team members to read out or summarize the main points in each column, grouping similar themes as you go.
Facilitate a group discussion starting with Drop the Weights, then Lift-Off Ideas, and finally Keep Flying High, focusing on actionable changes and reinforcing good habits.
Vote on the most important items in each column to prioritize actions and improvements.
Agree together on a shortlist of new ideas to try and practices to keep, and identify any “weights” that can be removed or reduced.
Wrap up by celebrating a team win or sharing a positive story from the sprint to reinforce the uplifting circus spirit.
Pro Tips
Use circus-themed virtual backgrounds or props to make the session engaging and help everyone get into the spirit.
Encourage open storytelling—let team members relate real experiences to the circus metaphor for more meaningful insights.
Balance energy between all columns: don’t rush past positives in Keep Flying High while digging into challenges.
Add a closing round asking each person to pick their favorite circus act as a light-hearted ending, building team morale.
FAQ
How do I get my team engaged with the circus theme if they’re hesitant?
Set the tone with energy and invite even small thematic touches. Emphasize the metaphor’s purpose: making reflection more approachable and fun.
What if our 'Drop the Weights' items are sensitive or personal?
Model a respectful discussion and remind the group that the focus is on shared improvement—not blame or criticism. Facilitators should be prepared to gently redirect if topics become too personal.
How can we ensure that action items from 'Lift-Off Ideas' are really implemented?
Assign clear owners and discuss practical next steps before the session ends, then follow up during your next regular meeting or standup.
Is this format suitable for very large teams or all-hands meetings?
It works best with small to medium teams. For larger groups, consider splitting into subgroups for more effective discussions.
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