🦇 Gotham Nights: The Batman Retrospective
Step into the Batcave! As Gotham’s agile defenders, we patrol our project city, confronting challenges and celebrating victories. Reflect on what worked, your crime-fighting lessons, missing gadgets, and secret wishes. Together, let’s make our Gotham safer and our team stronger!
Template Columns
🦸 Heroic Moments (Liked)
Spotlight the heroic actions and teamwork that kept our project thriving.
Base column: Liked📚 Detective Discoveries (Learned)
Share key learnings, clever solutions, or unexpected clues uncovered during this sprint.
Base column: Learned🦹 Missing Gadgets (Lacked)
Highlight resources, skills, or tools our team could have used to outsmart villains (challenges).
Base column: Lacked🌃 Bat-Signal Wishes (Longed For)
Express your hopes, big ideas, or support you wished for—like summoning Batman in Gotham’s hour of need.
Base column: Longed ForAbout this template
The Batman Retrospective transforms your team into Gotham’s agile defenders, reflecting on successes, lessons, gaps, and aspirations to strengthen collaboration and effectiveness.
When to use this template
Use this format when your team needs a creative, engaging way to explore wins, missed opportunities, and future goals—especially after complex projects or challenging sprints.
How to facilitate
Welcome your team to the Batcave atmosphere and briefly set the scene for the retrospective, explaining the Gotham theme and each column’s meaning.
Ask each team member to add their cards under Heroic Moments, Detective Discoveries, Missing Gadgets, and Bat-Signal Wishes, encouraging open and creative input.
Give everyone time to read through all contributions silently, noting themes or surprises.
Facilitate a group discussion, starting with Heroic Moments to recognize successes, then moving through Detective Discoveries, Missing Gadgets, and Bat-Signal Wishes, ensuring every voice is heard.
Identify actionable insights by focusing on Missing Gadgets and Bat-Signal Wishes, turning key discussion points into clear next steps or experiments.
Prioritize these actions together and assign ownership within the team, ensuring everyone knows the plan forward.
Close the session with a light-hearted wrap-up, perhaps asking for each member’s superhero alias or a takeaway inspired by the Gotham theme.
Pro Tips
Embrace the Gotham theme to spark creativity; themed icebreakers or virtual backgrounds can make the session memorable.
Encourage storytelling in each column to uncover not just what happened, but why—dig deeper into root causes and motivations.
Timebox each section so discussions stay balanced and the session remains energizing.
Use anonymous input for sensitive topics, especially in Missing Gadgets and Bat-Signal Wishes, to foster honesty.
FAQ
Is the superhero theme suitable for serious teams?
Yes, the theme adds energy without reducing professionalism; it often encourages openness and creative problem-solving. Adjust how playful you get based on team culture.
What if the team gets stuck on wishful thinking in the Bat-Signal Wishes column?
Guide the group to translate wishes into actionable experiments or requests, ensuring every aspiration is considered for practical follow-up.
How can I ensure balanced input across all columns?
Set clear expectations for contributing to each column and use silent brainstorming rounds to let everyone participate equally.
Want a custom template?
Create a retrospective template tailored to your team's needs with our AI-powered generator
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
4 columns
- Base Format
Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective