🔥🚒 Fire Fighting Drill
Let's investigate our project like skilled firefighters! Identify which "fires" to tackle, avoid hazards, and keep the flames of productivity alive.
Template Columns
🚨 Alarms to Pull
Decide on the key new actions and changes to implement for prevention or improvement.
Base column: Start🧯 Fires to Extinguish
Identify processes or habits to stop to prevent further escalation.
Base column: Stop🔥 Sparks to Ignite
Highlight actions or approaches that are working well and should continue to be fueled.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Fire Fighting Drill retrospective helps teams identify key issues to address, habits to cease, and strengths to build upon.
When to use this template
Use this when your team needs to reflect on challenges and identify specific actions to prevent 'fires' and nurture effective practices.
How to facilitate
Begin by explaining the retrospective's theme of firefighting. Discuss with the team the importance of identifying and addressing immediate challenges together.
Set up the template and introduce the columns: '🚨 Alarms to Pull', '🧯 Fires to Extinguish', and '🔥 Sparks to Ignite', outlining what each represents.
Allow team members time to individually brainstorm notes for each column based on their experiences.
Invite participants to share their thoughts and place their contributions in the appropriate columns, encouraging discussion around key points.
Facilitate a group effort to categorize and prioritize the responses, focusing on actionable takeaways.
Collaboratively assign ownership to the identified actions and next steps, ensuring accountability.
Conclude the session by recapping the most critical insights and thanking the team for their engagement.
Pro Tips
Encourage participants to think holistically about processes, habits, and actions that impact the team.
Allocate additional time for discussion if the team brings up complex issues or conflicting views.
Focus on one column at a time to maintain a structured discussion.
Use the firefighting theme to keep the session engaging and lighthearted where appropriate.
At the end, ensure each 'actionable alarm' has an owner and a clear plan.
FAQ
How do I create a safe space for sharing critical feedback?
Start the session by setting ground rules, emphasizing a focus on processes rather than individuals.
What if we have too many items under 'Fires to Extinguish' to address in one session?
Prioritize items based on urgency and impact, and revisit any remaining items in future meetings.
How can I make the session engaging?
Lean into the firefighting theme by incorporating related metaphors or visual representations.
How do I address conflicting viewpoints during the session?
Facilitate openly where each voice is heard, focusing discussions on team alignment over differences.
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