The Mountain Expedition retrospective transforms your team's project journey into a mountain climb, highlighting positive forces, obstacles, and clear next actions for future improvement.

When to use this template

Use this format after reaching a project milestone or completing a major sprint when you want to combine team reflection, celebration, and practical planning in an engaging way.

How to facilitate

Begin by introducing the mountain expedition metaphor and explain each column: uplifting breezes (positives), heavy boulders (obstacles), and trail markers (next actions).

Give everyone a moment to reflect individually and jot down their thoughts for each column, focusing on recent work.

Invite team members to share their uplifting breezes first, fostering a celebratory atmosphere and acknowledgment.

Move on to heavy boulders, discussing challenges and obstacles openly—encourage candor without blame.

Collaboratively group similar cards and invite discussion, focusing on which obstacles most affected progress.

Guide the team to brainstorm actionable trail markers for improvement, linking actions to the identified obstacles and positive learnings.

Prioritize the top 2-3 trail markers as concrete next steps to take forward.

Close by recapping key insights, commitments, and expressing appreciation for the team’s collective climb.

Pro Tips

Use the expedition theme to set an adventurous, collaborative tone—consider opening with a relevant icebreaker.

Prompt quieter team members with targeted questions to ensure all voices are heard, especially during the obstacles discussion.

Encourage the team to link trail markers directly to specific heavy boulders, making improvements practical and real.

End the session by sharing a visual summary or a collaborative mural to reinforce the journey metaphor.

FAQ

How can I encourage honest sharing about obstacles without blame?

Frame obstacles as shared challenges on the climb. Lead with empathy and emphasize the goal of learning and supporting each other.

What if the team struggles to identify actionable next steps?

Prompt them to focus on small, realistic trail markers. Link actions to both positive forces and pain points for a balanced approach.

How do I keep the retrospective from running long?

Timebox each section and use facilitation cues to focus on discussion rather than fixing every issue in the meeting.

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Wind, Anchors, Actions

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🏔️ Mountain Expedition

Strap on your boots! Let’s climb the peaks of our project together. Celebrate the gusts that pushed us up, identify heavy packs slowing us down, and plan new routes for the next ascent. Summit success awaits!

Template Columns

💨 Uplifting Breezes

🪨 Heavy Boulders

🥾 Trail Markers

About this template