The Innovation Workshop retrospective is designed to spark new ideas, refine existing practices, and retire what no longer works, empowering teams to evolve together.

When to use this template

Use this format when your team wants to break routine, revitalize processes, or drive continuous improvement through creative experimentation.

How to facilitate

Open the session by framing the workshop as a safe space for experimentation and creative thinking

Invite everyone to suggest fresh experiments or initiatives they want the team to try in the next sprint under the Fresh Experiments (Start) column

Ask the team to call out any outdated practices or blockers that should be retired in the Retire the Old (Stop) column

Guide participants to highlight effective practices that should be maintained in the Keep Building (Continue) column

Once ideas are gathered, facilitate a group discussion to clarify and prioritize items under each column

Encourage the team to select 1–2 experiments to action in the next sprint and identify owners for follow-up

Wrap up by celebrating inventive thinking and reaffirming commitment to trying new approaches

Pro Tips

Encourage playful thinking—no idea is too wild during brainstorming for experiments

Push the team to be specific about what 'experiment' means—define criteria for success and a timebox

If discussions stall, prompt with examples from other teams or recent industry trends

Capture action items clearly and revisit outcomes in the next retrospective session

FAQ

How do we ensure experiments are safe to try?

Set clear boundaries and success criteria upfront. Make sure experiments have minimal risks and are timeboxed for quick learning.

What if team members are hesitant to retire old processes?

Acknowledge emotional attachments, but focus on evidence and impact. Highlight the goal is team improvement, not criticism.

How do we avoid too many experiments at once?

Prioritize as a group and limit your focus to 1–2 new experiments per sprint for manageable change and better learning.

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 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

💡🛠️ Innovation Workshop

Welcome to our Innovation Workshop! Let’s tinker with our team processes, experiment with new ideas, and fine-tune what works. Your proposals today will help us build a better, more agile tomorrow. Grab your metaphorical toolkits and let’s innovate together!

Template Columns

🔬 Fresh Experiments (Start)

⚠️ Retire the Old (Stop)

🔧 Keep Building (Continue)

About this template