A whimsical, growth-focused retrospective that uses woodland imagery to foster meaningful team reflection on new ideas, challenges, and ongoing successes.

When to use this template

Use this format when your team needs a lighter, more imaginative atmosphere to encourage open sharing and creative thinking. Especially effective after busy sprints, major releases, or when energy is low.

How to facilitate

Set the scene by inviting everyone to imagine gathering for a woodland tea party, emphasizing a safe space for honest sharing and growth.

Review the three columns and clarify their woodland-inspired meanings, encouraging playful thinking.

Give silent time for everyone to reflect and add their thoughts to each column: new ideas to plant, habits to skip, and successes to pour again.

Allow team members to read and cluster similar items together for clarity and focus.

Guide a team discussion, moving through each column, drawing out stories, insights, and areas of agreement or disagreement.

Collaboratively identify a small number of action items or experiments to take into your next iteration.

End by inviting each participant to share one word or phrase that sums up their feeling about the tea party and the forest’s future.

Pro Tips

Embrace the playful woodland theme to encourage creativity and lower inhibitions—consider asking each participant to pick a woodland animal persona.

Use themed icebreaker questions (e.g., 'What’s your forest creature mood today?') to set a friendly, relaxed tone.

Keep the focus on growth by connecting every discussion point to how it nurtures your 'forest' (team/project).

Encourage quieter voices by offering the option to contribute anonymously or in writing first.

FAQ

What if my team finds the woodland theme too whimsical or distracting?

Let the team know the theme is optional—focus on the underlying reflection prompts and adapt the language to your group's comfort level.

How do I keep the discussion balanced between new ideas, stopping old habits, and celebrating wins?

Timebox each column discussion and rotate who shares first for each section. Remind the team of the value each perspective brings.

Our remote team tends to stay quiet in themed retros. How can I boost engagement?

Invite everyone to prepare one idea per column beforehand or use small breakout groups for initial sharing to increase comfort and participation.

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At a glance

Duration
40–55 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🦉🍵 Forest Creatures Tea Party

Gather beneath the whispering trees for a woodland tea party! As agile critters, let's sip our tea, share tales of teamwork, and nurture growth in our forest. Reflect, learn, and help our project thrive amid the mossy glades!

Template Columns

🌱 Fresh Sprouts to Plant

🍄 Mushrooms to Skip

🦊 Favorite Brews to Pour Again

About this template