🎄✨ Holiday Harmony

Gather around the festive fire to reflect on our sprint, celebrate the bright moments, melt away the frosty setbacks, and set sparkling resolutions for the next cycle.
45–60 min
4-12 people
Based on: What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
🎄✨ Holiday Harmony

Template Columns

🎁 Joyful Gifts

Celebrate the successes and bright moments that lit up our sprint.

Base column: What Went Well
❄️ Frosty Flaws

Identify the chilly setbacks that froze our progress.

Base column: What Went Wrong
🔔 New Year Resolutions

Set hopeful resolutions to enhance our next sprint.

Base column: What We Want to Improve

About this template

A festive sprint review that celebrates wins, examines setbacks, and creates joyful resolutions for the next cycle.

When to use this template

Ideal after a sprint that included notable achievements and challenges, especially when the team wants to end on a positive, holiday‑themed note.

How to facilitate

1

Start with a brief holiday ice‑breaker, such as sharing a favorite seasonal tradition, to set a joyful tone

2

In the Joyful Gifts column, ask each participant to write 1‑2 successes they’re proud of and place them on the board; discuss briefly to highlight common themes

3

Move to the Frosty Flaws column, have everyone note setbacks or obstacles, then group similar items and explore root causes

4

Transition to New Year Resolutions, invite the team to propose actionable improvements for the next sprint, turning each into a concrete commitment

5

Prioritize the resolutions by voting or dot‑voting, assign owners, and capture them in the sprint backlog

6

Close with a quick gratitude round where each person thanks a teammate for a specific contribution during the sprint

Pro Tips

Use festive emojis or virtual backgrounds to keep the atmosphere light and engaging

Limit discussion time per item to keep the session within the allotted duration

Encourage the team to frame setbacks as learning opportunities rather than blame

Create a shared visual board that stays visible after the retro for accountability

FAQ

What if the team struggles to find positive moments?

Prompt them with specific questions about completed work, customer feedback, or personal growth to uncover hidden wins.

How do we prevent the session from turning into a blame game?

Focus discussions on processes and systemic issues, use neutral language, and emphasize learning over fault.

Can we use this retro for non‑holiday periods?

Yes, simply replace the festive framing with a neutral theme while keeping the three columns structure.

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At a glance

  • Duration

    45–60 min

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Tags

celebration
continuous improvement
team morale
holiday
reflection

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective