The Holiday Getaway retrospective helps teams reflect on their sprint as a travel adventure, exploring new practices to start, unhelpful habits to stop, and proven methods to continue.

When to use this template

Use this format when your team needs a fun, themed way to review recent work, especially before breaks or at the end of a goal period to spark fresh ideas and motivation.

How to facilitate

Begin by welcoming the team and introducing the holiday adventure theme, setting a relaxed and open tone.

Briefly explain the columns: New Destinations for new ideas, Unpack the Baggage for things to stop, and Repeat Excursions for successful habits to continue.

Give everyone a few minutes to add their thoughts to each column privately, encouraging creativity and honesty.

Invite team members to share and discuss their contributions, grouping similar ideas and asking clarifying questions where needed.

Facilitate a group discussion to prioritize actions from each column, focusing on actionable and specific takeaways.

Close by assigning owners for each action item and reflecting on how these changes could create a 'vacation-worthy' next sprint.

Pro Tips

Encourage light storytelling by inviting team members to relate their insights to memorable travel or vacation experiences.

Prompt quieter participants by asking specific, inviting questions related to each column.

Use playful language and themed imagery to keep energy high without losing focus on outcomes.

If pressed for time, focus deeply on one column the team needs most rather than all three equally.

FAQ

How do I keep the theme engaging but relevant to real improvements?

Gently tie every travel-related comment back to tangible team actions and goals, and remind everyone that the fun theme serves to spark creative thinking about real issues.

What if the discussion gets too lighthearted and loses focus?

Bring attention back by summarizing key discussion points and asking how each relates to sprint outcomes or specific team challenges.

How do I make sure action items are followed up?

Assign clear owners and deadlines for each action item, and revisit them at the start of the next retrospective.

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At a glance

Duration
35–50 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🎄🏖️ Holiday Getaway

Pack your bags! Let’s reflect on our agile journey as if it were a holiday adventure, sharing what to start, stop, and continue for a vacation-worthy sprint next time.

Template Columns

🌅 New Destinations (Start)

🧳 Unpack the Baggage (Stop)

⛱️ Repeat Excursions (Continue)

About this template