🆘 Island Rescue Mission
Castaways unite! Use SOS signals to evaluate what needs urgent change, what bad habits to abandon, and what lifesaving actions to maintain as we work toward safe project shores.
Template Columns
🚦 Send Distress Signals (Start)
Highlight new actions or experiments we should begin to improve our rescue efforts.
Base column: Start🛑 Cut Loose the Deadweight (Stop)
Identify unhelpful processes or obstacles we need to leave behind to stay afloat.
Base column: Stop🛟 Liferafts & Signal Fires (Continue)
Share which habits and practices keep us on course and should be reinforced for survival.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
Island Rescue Mission uses an SOS-themed approach for teams to quickly identify new initiatives to start, ineffective practices to stop, and key strengths to continue.
When to use this template
Choose this format when your team needs a clear, collaborative reset or is facing new challenges and wants to separate helpful habits from blockers quickly.
How to facilitate
Kick off the session by setting the castaway rescue metaphor and creating psychological safety so everyone feels comfortable sending 'SOS signals'
Introduce each column and clarify with examples what types of items belong under Start (distress signals), Stop (deadweight), and Continue (liferafts & signal fires)
Give team members a few minutes to reflect individually and add their thoughts under each column
Invite team members to read and group related items together, discussing to clarify intent where necessary
Facilitate a group conversation prioritizing the most urgent Start and Stop signals and identifying strong practices in Continue to reinforce
Help the team agree on 2–3 concrete action items, ensuring ownership is assigned for follow-through
Wrap up with a quick round of appreciations or reflections, reinforcing team unity for the 'rescue mission' ahead
Pro Tips
Set the tone with a playful intro, but ensure everyone knows this is also about real changes and improvements
Tie each action to a real project 'rescue' goal or outcome to keep discussions pragmatic instead of abstract
Balance urgency: avoid panic by encouraging a focus on quick-wins and sustainable improvements, not just fire-fighting
If discussion gets stuck, gently steer the group to focus on tangible behaviors and processes rather than vague complaints
FAQ
What do I do if the team can't agree on what is 'deadweight'?
Facilitate a brief pros and cons discussion, then vote to prioritize which processes really need to be stopped.
How do I prevent the session from becoming too negative?
Balance stops with plenty of time to discuss what to continue. Highlight team wins and resilience throughout the session.
What should we do with long lists of suggestions under Start or Continue?
Group and prioritize ideas, then select the top 2–3 for focused action so the team doesn't feel overwhelmed.
At a glance
- Duration
40–55 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective