☃️❄️ Frosty Frontier

Bundle up and slide into our snowy sprint retro, where we sculpt successes, melt mishaps, and keep the chill of continuous improvement alive.
45–60 min
4-12 people
Based on: Start, Stop, Continue
☃️❄️ Frosty Frontier

Template Columns

⛄️ Begin the Snowball

Identify fresh ideas and actions to kick off the next sprint.

Base column: Start
🛑 Melt the Drifts

Highlight practices that are causing friction and should be stopped.

Base column: Stop
🌟 Keep the Frosty Glow

Celebrate what’s working well and continue those winning habits.

Base column: Continue

About this template

A winter‑themed sprint retro that surfaces new ideas, stops friction, and reinforces what’s working.

When to use this template

Use when the team needs a fresh perspective and wants to balance improvement with celebration, especially after a busy sprint.

How to facilitate

1

Set the scene by sharing the Frosty Frontier theme and reminding the purpose of each column

2

Ask each participant to write one observation per column on virtual sticky notes: ideas to start, things to stop, and practices to continue

3

Group similar notes together, then have the team vote on the most impactful items in each column using dot voting

4

Discuss the top‑voted items, agreeing on concrete actions for the Start column, removal steps for Stop, and reinforcement plans for Continue

5

Capture the agreed actions in the sprint board, assign owners, and close the retro with a quick temperature check

Pro Tips

Limit each participant to three notes per column to keep the board focused and avoid analysis paralysis

Use a timer for each discussion segment to maintain momentum and respect everyone’s time

Encourage the team to phrase Stop items as specific behaviors rather than vague complaints for clearer actionability

FAQ

What if the team runs out of ideas for the Start column?

Prompt with open‑ended questions like “What experiment could improve our flow?” and allow silent brainstorming before sharing

How do we handle dominant voices during discussion?

Facilitator can use a round‑robin or ask quieter members for their thoughts, ensuring balanced input

Can we combine this retro with a regular sprint review?

Yes, schedule the Frosty Frontier after the review; keep it separate in time (15‑20 minutes) so the focus stays on process improvement

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At a glance

  • Duration

    45–60 min

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Start, Stop, Continue

Tags

process improvement
team health
action-oriented
winter theme
remote-friendly

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective