🎭 Masquerade Masterpiece
Step into the grand Masquerade! Behind every mask lies a lesson—let’s reveal new ways to shine, discard what no longer serves us, and keep dancing to our best rhythms. Let’s unmask our agile brilliance together!
Template Columns
✨ Unveiling New Moves
Reveal new actions or practices we should start to make our performance dazzling.
Base column: Start🕸️ Removing the Masks
Share habits or blockers we should stop hiding behind for a clearer path.
Base column: Stop🎶 Encore Performances
Celebrate the strengths and practices we should continue to enchant our collaboration.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Masquerade Masterpiece retrospective invites teams to reveal new improvements, remove hidden blockers, and celebrate enduring strengths for improved collaboration.
When to use this template
Use this format when your team needs a creative reset, wants to uncover hidden issues, or is seeking to refresh regular retrospective routines with a playful metaphor.
How to facilitate
Welcome everyone to the Masquerade and introduce the theme, inviting participants to embrace the playful, metaphorical approach
Explain the three columns: Unveiling New Moves for new ideas to try, Removing the Masks for blockers or unhelpful habits to let go, and Encore Performances for practices to keep
Encourage team members to silently add cards in each column, drawing on recent sprint experiences and using the masquerade theme for inspiration
Facilitate a group review of each column, asking clarifying questions and prompting for stories behind each mask (card)
Guide the team to cluster similar cards, discuss their impact, and prioritize which new moves to try and which blockers to remove first
Lead a celebration of the strengths listed in Encore Performances, ensuring everyone acknowledges each other's contributions
Wrap up by agreeing on 1–2 concrete action items to implement, and schedule a follow-up to see how the changes perform
Close the session by inviting each participant to share a final reflection or ‘unmasking’ thought
Pro Tips
Set the mood with festive music or themed backgrounds to make the session memorable and boost engagement
Encourage honesty by reassuring the team that retrospectives are a safe space to 'unmask' challenges
Ask quieter participants directly for input if you sense important feedback is being held back
Use visual props or emojis to make the metaphor immersive, especially for remote teams
FAQ
What if the masquerade theme feels too playful for my team?
Adapt the metaphor to your culture. Emphasize that 'masks' are just a creative way to talk about challenges, and focus on actionable insights.
How do I avoid people only sharing positives?
Model vulnerability by sharing a blocker of your own first, and prompt the team with concrete examples to spark honest discussion.
What if the same blockers come up repeatedly?
Treat recurring blockers as priority topics. Escalate them or brainstorm new approaches, ensuring you track ownership and follow-up actions.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 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