🎄🎉 Holiday Cheer Retrospective
Let’s unwrap the gifts of our last sprint! Step into this festive retrospective where we celebrate wins, share new traditions (and lessons), address what was missing, and make a wish list for our agile future.
Template Columns
🎁 Favorite Festive Moments
Share the holiday highlights and team moments that brought you joy this sprint.
Base column: Liked📚 Lessons from Traditions
Discuss new skills, insights, or traditions learned from this sprint’s experiences.
Base column: Learned🎅 Missing Magic
Identify what was missing from our holiday iteration and how we can bring more magic next time.
Base column: Lacked✨ Wish List for the Next Sprint
Express what you wished for—in terms of support, process, or improvements—for future sprints.
Base column: Longed ForAbout this template
The Holiday Cheer Retrospective brings a festive twist to sprint review, helping teams celebrate wins, uncover new learnings, address what was missing, and set clear intentions for the next iteration.
When to use this template
Use this template during the holiday season or for any team looking to refresh energy, foster connection, and end a sprint on a celebratory note.
How to facilitate
Open by encouraging everyone to get into the festive spirit and explain the retrospective’s holiday-inspired focus.
Invite team members to share their favorite festive moments from the sprint, focusing on highlights and memorable team interactions.
Move to lessons from traditions, asking the team to reflect on new insights or processes they discovered and how these could influence future work.
Discuss what was missing from the last sprint by surfacing gaps, blockers, or anything that dampened the team’s magic.
Create a wish list for the next sprint, gathering everyone’s hopes and suggestions for support, process improvement, or new approaches.
Cluster similar topics across columns and prioritize what matters most for team discussion.
Facilitate a group conversation to explore actionable next steps based on key themes in 'Missing Magic' and 'Wish List for the Next Sprint.'
End the session with festive appreciation, encouraging the team to acknowledge positive contributions and holiday wishes.
Pro Tips
Encourage everyone to join with a holiday virtual background or accessory to create a fun atmosphere.
Tie lessons and wishes to concrete team goals, so celebrations can inform improvements.
If energy feels low, add a quick icebreaker or invite everyone to share favorite holiday traditions outside of work.
Don’t let the festive theme overshadow serious topics—ensure 'Missing Magic' receives honest attention.
Capture inspirational or humorous moments from the session to reinforce team spirit after the retro.
FAQ
How do I keep the session focused and not too silly with the holiday theme?
Set expectations upfront about balancing fun with meaningful reflection. Prompt thoughtful contributions and circle back to key improvement areas.
What if not all team members celebrate the same holidays?
Keep the theme inclusive by focusing on 'festive' or 'end-of-year' moments, welcoming everyone’s diverse traditions and perspectives.
How can I ensure action items don’t get lost in the festive atmosphere?
Dedicate time specifically to formulating concrete next steps and add them to your usual tracking tool immediately after the retro.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
4 columns
- Base Format
Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective