🎃👻 Haunted Harvest Retro
Gather ’round the haunted house of our sprint, share the treats (glad), the tricks (sad), and the curses (mad) to conjure a better next sprint.
Template Columns
🍬 Sweet Treats
Celebrate the delightful successes that were treats this sprint.
Base column: Glad🕸️ Spooky Shadows
Discuss the haunting challenges that dimmed our spirits.
Base column: Sad👹 Ghoulish Grumbles
Vent the frustrations that turned us into monsters.
Base column: MadAbout this template
A themed sprint retro that lets teams celebrate wins, surface challenges, and vent frustrations using Halloween‑style columns.
When to use this template
Use when you want a fun, high‑energy review that balances positivity with honest problem‑solving, especially after a busy sprint.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by reminding the team of the Halloween theme and the purpose of each column: Sweet Treats for successes, Spooky Shadows for challenges, and Ghoulish Grumbles for frustrations.
Give each participant 3–5 minutes to write sticky notes (or virtual cards) for each column, using emojis or icons to keep the mood light.
Collect the notes on the board, grouping similar items together while the facilitator reads them aloud to ensure shared understanding.
Facilitate a discussion starting with Sweet Treats, then Spooky Shadows, and finally Ghoulish Grumbles, asking the team to explore root causes and possible improvements.
Close the retro by voting on the top two action items, assigning owners, and ending with a quick “spooky” celebration, such as a themed GIF or sound effect.
Pro Tips
Encourage brief, specific notes (one idea per card) to keep the board readable and the conversation focused.
Use a timer for each column discussion to prevent lingering too long on any single topic.
If emotions run high during Ghoulish Grumbles, pause and ask the group to reframe the frustration into a concrete improvement suggestion.
FAQ
What if the team runs out of things to put in Sweet Treats?
Remind them that even small wins count, such as a smooth handoff or a quick bug fix, and encourage sharing personal learning moments.
How do we keep the Ghoulish Grumbles from turning into blame?
Focus the language on the situation and behavior, not the person, and immediately ask for a constructive action that could change the outcome.
Can this retro be used for non‑technical teams?
Yes, the themed columns work for any group; just adapt the examples to fit the team's context, like project milestones or client interactions.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Glad, Sad, Mad
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective