The Happy Place Spot retrospective invites teams to reflect on recent work by celebrating successes, addressing challenges, and brainstorming improvements—all within a playful, relaxing theme.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective at the end of a project phase or sprint when you want to encourage open sharing and positive team energy, especially if the team needs a morale boost.

How to facilitate

Introduce the Happy Place Spot theme, explaining the purpose of each column and inviting everyone to picture their ideal retreat.

Start with Rays of Joy, asking participants to add moments that brought them satisfaction or joy during the project.

Move to Stormy Shadows, encouraging the team to share obstacles, frustrations, or disappointments they encountered.

Transition to Cozy Upgrades, prompting everyone to suggest practical changes or ideas that would make future projects more comfortable and joyful.

Group similar items together and discuss major themes that emerge in each column, drawing connections between experiences.

Collaboratively identify 2–3 action items from the Cozy Upgrades column to address in the next sprint or project phase.

Close the session by inviting everyone to share one thing they’re looking forward to in their team’s future happy place.

Pro Tips

Begin with a brief visualization exercise to help everyone get into a relaxed, open mindset before sharing.

Use playful or themed prompts throughout to keep the atmosphere light, especially when discussing challenges.

Encourage quieter team members by offering a round-robin sharing option to ensure all voices are heard.

Check in on past 'Cozy Upgrades' at the start of the session to celebrate improvements and build trust.

FAQ

What if team members struggle to name positive moments?

Prompt with specific questions like 'What made you smile this sprint?' or give examples to get ideas flowing.

How do I handle sensitive topics in the Stormy Shadows column?

Acknowledge concerns respectfully, create space for honest discussion, and shift focus to actionable improvements.

What can I do if the team gets stuck on creating Cozy Upgrades?

Remind everyone that even small changes count and reflect on previous Rays of Joy to inspire improvements.

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At a glance

Duration
35–50 min
Team Size
3-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🌈 Happy Place Spot

Step into your happy place! Let’s reflect on the project while lounging in our imaginary retreats. Celebrate the sunshine, notice the rainclouds, and design an even cozier oasis for our next sprint!

Template Columns

☀️ Rays of Joy

🌧️ Stormy Shadows

🌱 Cozy Upgrades

About this template