🐹 Hamster Wheel Huddle
Roll into this hamster-inspired retro! Let's gather in our hamster cage to celebrate what kept us moving, the lessons we've stored, what we ran short on, and what we wish to add for smoother sprints.
Template Columns
🌻 Chewed Treats
Celebrate the wins and satisfying moments that kept our wheels turning.
Base column: Liked🪺 Nesting Wisdom
Share insightful lessons and clever tricks we’ve gathered for future sprints.
Base column: Learned🚫 Empty Food Bowl
Point out what was missing or any roadblocks that left us running in circles.
Base column: Lacked🎡 Bigger Wheel Dreams
Express what you wish we had to make our journey cozier or more exciting.
Base column: Longed ForAbout this template
The Hamster Wheel Huddle retrospective uses playful metaphors to help teams reflect on achievements, shared wisdom, challenges, and future wishes for better sprints.
When to use this template
This retrospective is ideal at the end of a sprint or milestone, especially when your team could benefit from a fun, fresh take on reflection and improvement.
How to facilitate
Welcome the team with a brief explanation of the Hamster Wheel Huddle theme and its four areas of focus
Set expectations for open sharing and clarify each column’s playful metaphor to encourage creativity
Give team members silent time to add notes to each column: Chewed Treats (celebrations), Nesting Wisdom (lessons), Empty Food Bowl (gaps), and Bigger Wheel Dreams (wishes)
Guide the group in reviewing and grouping similar notes, inviting short explanations when needed
Facilitate a collaborative discussion on key themes and priorities emerging from each area
Decide together on 1-2 action items or experiments to address the top improvement opportunities or needs
Wrap up by inviting everyone to share their takeaway or something they appreciated about the huddle
Pro Tips
Encourage lighthearted participation by relating comments back to the hamster wheel theme; it can relax the group and spark creative thinking
For each column, prompt with specific examples to help the team dig deeper and move beyond surface-level observations
Set a visible timer for each phase to keep momentum high and avoid running in circles
Empower quieter team members by using silent brainstorming before group discussion begins
FAQ
What if the hamster theme feels too light or silly for my team?
Explain the intent—it’s designed to make the process more inviting, but everyone should feel free to keep their contributions practical and focused.
How should we prioritize which wishes from 'Bigger Wheel Dreams' to focus on?
Vote as a group or discuss which ideas would have the greatest positive impact on the team's next sprint.
How do I handle a column with no contributions?
Prompt with examples or share the first note yourself to help break the ice and signal it’s safe to name gaps or lessons.
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