🎥🌟 Lights, Camera, Action! Reality Show Retrospective

Step into the spotlight! Our agile journey is the ultimate reality show—full of drama, triumphs, and unexpected twists. Let’s vote on what stays, what gets eliminated, and what deserves another season to make our team a hit!
45–60 min
3-10 people
Based on: Start, Stop, Continue
🎥🌟 Lights, Camera, Action! Reality Show Retrospective

Template Columns

📺 New Episodes

Pitch fresh ideas or practices for our next thrilling ‘season’.

Base column: Start
🚫 Voted Off the Island

Cast away habits or blockers we want to see eliminated from our show.

Base column: Stop
🏆 Fan Favorites

Highlight routines and moments worth keeping for continued success.

Base column: Continue

About this template

The Lights, Camera, Action! Reality Show Retrospective uses a playful reality TV theme to help teams review what to keep, eliminate, or introduce for continuous improvement. Team members pitch new ideas, remove blockers, and celebrate best practices, all with a fun voting element.

When to use this template

Use this format when your team needs an energetic, creative approach to reflection or when engagement feels low. It's great after high-stakes projects, routine sprints, or whenever a fresh perspective is needed.

How to facilitate

1

Begin with a brief introduction, setting the scene by describing your recent work as a reality show season and explaining the purpose of each column.

2

Invite everyone to brainstorm and add their cards in the three categories: New Episodes for new suggestions, Voted Off the Island for blockers and bad habits, and Fan Favorites for successful practices.

3

Allow time for team members to read through all cards, ask clarifying questions, and discuss notable points or surprising items.

4

Let participants each 'vote' (star or thumbs-up) on the cards in each category they feel are most important. Encourage quick discussion after each vote to address reasoning or advocacy.

5

Prioritize action items based on the most-voted cards—select concrete next steps for new ideas and fan favorites, and agree on plans to remove blockers or habits that were 'voted off.'

6

Conclude by assigning responsibilities and reviewing the top three actions for the next sprint or cycle. Close with a playful reflection or 'awards moment' to match the reality show spirit.

Pro Tips

Set the stage with a fun intro, referencing well-known reality TV elements to get everyone engaged from the start.

Encourage playful debates about what should be 'renewed' or 'cancelled' to spark candid feedback in a non-threatening way.

Limit the number of cards per person to keep the conversation focused and avoid overwhelming the board.

Use dramatic sound effects or virtual applause to make the voting process lively and memorable.

FAQ

How do I keep the energy up for this themed retrospective?

Start with a brief, enthusiastic intro and keep the pace lively during discussions, using light-hearted language and the TV show metaphor.

What if the same topics keep getting voted off every session?

Acknowledge recurring issues and shift focus from just identifying them to creating specific action plans and assigning ownership for resolution.

Is this template appropriate for serious or high-pressure project reviews?

Yes, but tailor the tone to balance playfulness with professionalism—emphasizing the reality show metaphor as a tool to surface real issues effectively.

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At a glance

  • Duration

    45–60 min

  • Team Size

    3-10 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Start, Stop, Continue

Tags

engagement
team building
fun
reflection
continuous improvement
action-oriented
agile

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective