🧞♂️✨ Genie’s Magical Lamp
Rub the enchanted lamp and summon your inner genie to reflect on our sprint! Let’s grant wishes for improvement and uncover the magic that helped (or hindered) our journey.
Template Columns
🌟 Granted Wishes
Reveal the successes and magical moments that made our project shine bright!
Base column: What Went Well🧩 Tricky Curses
Share the obstacles or tricky issues that put a spell on our workflow.
Base column: What Went Wrong🪔 Wishes for the Next Sprint
Suggest improvements and new wishes to make our next adventure even more magical.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
Genie's Magical Lamp is a playful retrospective that invites teams to reflect on successes, discuss obstacles, and grant improvement wishes for the next sprint.
When to use this template
Use this format when you want to foster creativity and engagement, especially after a challenging or eventful sprint. It's ideal for energizing teams and encouraging open, imaginative reflection.
How to facilitate
Begin by inviting everyone to 'rub the lamp' together and introduce the storytelling theme to set a fun and imaginative tone.
Briefly explain the three columns: granted wishes for successes, tricky curses for obstacles, and new wishes for future improvements.
Allow each team member time to add their cards to each column individually, encouraging them to reflect deeply on their experiences.
Review and discuss the granted wishes as a group, celebrating accomplishments and identifying the magic behind them.
Move to the tricky curses, exploring each obstacle and encouraging the team to share context and perspectives.
Transition to wishes for the next sprint by brainstorming actionable improvements, ensuring everyone's ideas are heard and clarified.
Facilitate dot-voting on the top 'wishes' to prioritize action items as a team.
Close by assigning owners to top-voted wishes and encouraging everyone to remember their inner genie throughout the next sprint.
Pro Tips
Use playful language or themed props to immerse the team in the genie concept and boost engagement.
Prompt quieter team members to share by asking open questions or inviting them to describe a 'magical moment.'
Reflect not just on what happened but on what made successes possible—dig for the 'genie' behind the magic.
During the action-planning phase, push for specific commitments rather than vague wishes.
Rotate the facilitator role so different team members experience leading the 'magic' ceremony.
FAQ
How do I keep the retrospective focused and not just playful?
Balance fun with structure by moving through each column methodically and refocusing the group during transitions between topics.
What if team members have a hard time thinking of 'wishes' or improvements?
Prompt reflection with examples or ask them to think about what could 'unlock' even better results next sprint.
How can I encourage quieter voices in the discussion?
Offer anonymous card submission and invite direct input during the discussion rounds, emphasizing psychological safety.
What if the team gets stuck on tricky curses?
Guide the conversation toward lessons learned and quickly pivot to how these can be transformed into actionable wishes.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective