The KFC Bucket Challenge retrospective encourages teams to explore new ideas, stop unhelpful habits, and celebrate effective practices using a fun, food-themed structure.

When to use this template

Use this format when your team needs a playful, creative way to reflect on their workflow or after a period needing renewed energy and engagement.

How to facilitate

Open the retrospective by introducing the KFC Bucket Challenge theme and explain the meaning behind each column.

Invite team members to brainstorm and add their thoughts to each column anonymously or by name: add new flavors, lose the grease, and keep the secret recipe.

Give everyone a few minutes to review the board, reading and reflecting on all contributions.

Facilitate a team discussion, starting with 'Keep the Secret Recipe', then 'Lose the Grease', and finish with 'Add New Flavors', clustering similar items and digging deeper where needed.

Prioritize the most impactful points from each category as a group, identifying quick wins and pressing issues.

Agree on specific action items and assign responsibility for follow-up.

Wrap up by inviting everyone to share takeaways and give feedback on the format.

Pro Tips

Encourage creative and fun language to keep the energy high and make it easier to share honest feedback.

Start with the 'Keep' column to spotlight successes and set a positive tone before tackling challenges.

If the group is large, use breakout rooms for brainstorming before sharing highlights with the whole team.

Prepare a few playful icebreakers or food-themed check-in questions to reinforce the theme.

FAQ

How can we encourage quieter team members to participate?

Start with anonymous contributions, use round-robin sharing during discussions, and create a supportive atmosphere by thanking all input.

What if the team gets stuck on negative topics?

Redirect focus by highlighting the 'Keep the Secret Recipe' column first, and balance discussions with positive takeaways before reviewing challenges.

How do we ensure action items are followed up?

Assign clear owners for each action and schedule a quick check-in at your next meeting to review progress.

Want a custom template?

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-12 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🍗 KFC Bucket Challenge

Welcome to the KFC Bucket Challenge retrospective! Let’s dig into what’s crispy, what’s extra greasy, and what deserves a secret seasoning. Together, we'll spice up our collaboration for finger-lickin' good results!

Template Columns

🍗 Add New Flavors (Start)

🥤 Lose the Grease (Stop)

🌽 Keep the Secret Recipe (Continue)

About this template