🎆🇺🇸 Fourth of July Freedom Retro
Celebrate our project’s independence with fireworks of feedback! Reflect on what’s sparking success, what fizzled, and what we want to keep lighting up as we march toward agility.
Template Columns
🎇 Ignite New Traditions (Start)
Share fresh ideas and practices we should launch for a more spectacular sprint.
Base column: Start🧨 Extinguish Duds (Stop)
Identify habits or blockers that are damping our celebration, ready to be stopped.
Base column: Stop🎉 Keep the Celebration Going (Continue)
Highlight the winning moves and rituals we want to keep as part of our ongoing festivities.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Fourth of July Freedom Retro invites teams to celebrate wins, address challenges, and spark new ideas by reviewing what to start, stop, and continue, all with a festive twist.
When to use this template
This retrospective is perfect for teams wanting to inject extra energy into their reflection after a big milestone or when a morale boost is needed.
How to facilitate
Kick off by setting the festive, celebratory tone and briefly explain each column’s purpose.
Invite everyone to reflect silently and add thoughts to the three columns: Ignite New Traditions (Start), Extinguish Duds (Stop), and Keep the Celebration Going (Continue).
Review all contributions together, clustering similar ideas, and ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding.
Facilitate an open discussion on what items in each column resonate most and why, focusing on actionable takeaways.
Prioritize the top ideas from the Start and Stop columns and decide as a team which new traditions to trial and which duds to drop for the next sprint.
Conclude the session with a recap of the agreed actions, then celebrate team efforts with a fitting virtual send-off or a fun team ritual.
Pro Tips
Encourage storytelling when discussing wins to inspire others and build team connection.
Frame blockers or duds as opportunities for growth rather than failures.
Use the holiday spirit as permission to mix up the usual format—consider themed prizes or backgrounds for extra engagement.
Capture agreed action items with clear owners directly during the session so nothing is lost.
Make time at the end for genuine appreciation, not just formal feedback.
FAQ
What if team members are hesitant to share negative feedback?
As facilitator, model openness and invite constructive candor by framing Stops as chances to improve team spirit and results.
How do we keep the session energized online?
Set a playful tone with themed visuals, quick icebreakers, and keep your facilitation upbeat. Encourage everyone to contribute with short, frequent prompts.
How do we ensure action items don’t get lost after the retro?
Summarize next steps during the session, assign clear owners, and follow up at your next team sync or stand-up.
At a glance
- Duration
40–50 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