🦈 Jaws Retrospective
Welcome aboard, team! Dive deep beneath the project waves, spot the sharks (risks), and celebrate safe swims (successes). Let’s make a splash with improvements and avoid choppy waters on our next adventure!
Template Columns
🌊 Safe Swims
Celebrate the smooth waters and successful moves that kept us afloat.
Base column: What Went Well🦈 Shark Encounters
Reveal any project mishaps or close calls we faced in the deep.
Base column: What Went Wrong🚤 Upgrade the Boat
Suggest changes and gear to stay safer and smarter next time in shark-infested waters.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Jaws Retrospective encourages your team to dive into successes, surface risks, and brainstorm improvements using a vivid ocean adventure theme. Navigate project journeys by celebrating wins, identifying threats, and discussing actionable upgrades for smoother voyages ahead.
When to use this template
Use this format when a project phase has felt high-risk or unpredictable, or when your team needs an energizing and themed approach to retrospectives. It's ideal for surfacing hidden challenges while boosting team morale through positive storytelling.
How to facilitate
Start by setting the scene—invite everyone to imagine the project as a sea voyage, with both smooth and choppy waters along the way.
Review the 'Safe Swims' column and prompt the team to share moments or actions that kept the project afloat. Allow space for recognition and group celebration.
Move to 'Shark Encounters' and encourage honest discussion about obstacles, risks, or close calls that could have derailed your progress. Keep the tone solution-focused and foster psychological safety.
Guide the group to populate 'Upgrade the Boat' with suggestions for new practices, tools, or behaviors that would better equip the team for future challenges.
Cluster similar ideas in each column, highlighting patterns or recurring themes together.
Facilitate a team discussion to select one or two actionable improvements from 'Upgrade the Boat.' Assign ownership and agree on follow-up steps.
Close by reflecting on the team's resilience and adaptability—emphasize growth over blame and thank everyone for candid participation.
Pro Tips
Lean into the nautical theme to spark creativity and make the session more memorable.
Encourage quieter voices with targeted questions—ask them about risks or successes you noticed they were involved in.
Summarize key risks from 'Shark Encounters' to build a shared understanding of your project’s environment.
Limit action items to a manageable number so follow-through remains realistic.
Invite team members to share how past improvements from similar retros might have helped this time.
FAQ
How do I keep the 'Shark Encounters' discussion positive instead of focusing on blame?
Frame these discussions around risk awareness and learning. Remind the team that every project has hidden dangers and everyone contributes to navigating them safely.
What if team members only focus on successes and avoid discussing close calls?
Model openness by sharing a small risk you noticed yourself. Reassure the group that surfacing threats helps prepare everyone, not assign fault.
Can I run this retrospective with a large or distributed team?
Yes, but consider breaking into smaller subgroups for discussion, then bringing findings back to the main group for synthesis and action planning.
How do I ensure action items from 'Upgrade the Boat' are followed up?
Assign clear owners, set deadlines, and plan a review at your next retrospective to check on progress and impact.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective