🎄❄️ Holiday Workshop
Gather around the festive workshop to unwrap our wins, pause the glitches, and keep the holiday spirit alive in our sprint!
Template Columns
🎁 Gifted Beginnings
Identify new practices to kick off the next sprint like unwrapping fresh gifts.
Base column: Start🛑 Frosty Halts
Spot the chilly habits we need to melt away.
Base column: Stop✨ Sparkling Traditions
Celebrate the shining rituals that keep our team merry.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A festive, three‑column retrospective that uncovers new ideas, stops unproductive habits, and reinforces winning rituals.
When to use this template
Use when the team wants a light‑hearted, holiday‑themed review that still drives concrete improvements.
How to facilitate
Set the scene by sharing a brief holiday story or image and remind the group of the three columns: Gifted Beginnings, Frosty Halts, and Sparkling Traditions
Give each participant 3–5 minutes to write individual notes on sticky notes for each column, focusing on concrete examples from the last sprint
Collect the notes on the virtual board, grouping similar items together while the facilitator reads them aloud
Discuss each column in turn: first identify the most valuable new practices to adopt, then vote on the top two habits to stop, and finally celebrate the rituals to continue
Create a sprint action plan by assigning owners and due dates to the selected gifts and halts, and close with a quick holiday cheer or virtual toast
Pro Tips
Use a timer for each writing phase to keep energy high and prevent over‑analysis
Encourage participants to phrase stops as positive alternatives (e.g., “replace long meetings with short stand‑ups”)
Add a festive background or music in the virtual room to sustain the holiday mood without distracting from the discussion
FAQ
What if the team runs out of time?
Prioritize the top‑voted items in each column and defer lower‑priority ideas to a follow‑up email or the next retrospective.
How do we keep the holiday theme from feeling forced?
Allow participants to choose their own festive icon or emoji for each note, and keep the decorations simple and optional.
Can this format work for non‑holiday sprints?
Yes, replace the holiday language with any theme; the three‑column structure works for any context.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective