🐉⚔️ Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne Retro
Gather round the Iron Throne to reflect on our battles, forge alliances, and plan the next conquest in true Westerosi spirit.
Template Columns
🛡️ Raise the Banner
Identify new strategies and actions to begin our quest for the throne.
Base column: Start⚔️ Drop the Sword
Highlight practices that hinder our kingdom and should be abandoned.
Base column: Stop🏰 Hold the Keep
Celebrate and maintain the strengths that keep our realm strong.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A themed retrospective where teams identify new actions, stop harmful practices, and keep strengths using a Game of Thrones motif.
When to use this template
Use when you want a fun, narrative‑driven session that energizes the team and highlights strategic shifts.
How to facilitate
Introduce the Iron Throne story and explain the meaning of each column as new strategies, stopped practices, and maintained strengths
Ask participants to add virtual sticky notes to the Raise the Banner, Drop the Sword, and Hold the Keep columns
Group similar notes together and discuss each column, starting with Raise the Banner, then Drop the Sword, then Hold the Keep
Vote on the top two or three items in each column using dot voting or a quick poll
Record the agreed actions on a shared board, assign owners, and close with a brief reflection on the next conquest
Pro Tips
Encourage participants to use vivid Westerosi language for added immersion
Limit each sticky note to one concise idea to keep discussion focused
After voting, ask the owner to state a concrete next step and a deadline
FAQ
What if the team isn’t familiar with Game of Thrones?
Explain the metaphor briefly and focus on the column meanings; the theme works even without deep knowledge.
How do we keep the session from becoming just a game?
Tie each identified action to a real sprint goal and assign clear owners, ensuring outcomes drive actual improvement.
What if we have too many items in a column?
Group similar notes and use voting to surface the most impactful items, discarding lower‑priority ideas.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
5-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective