💜🎩 Muk Madness
Dive into the world of Muk, the gooey Pokémon! Let’s ooze through what sticky habits to start, what toxic practices to stop, and which powerful moves to keep using as we evolve our agile journey.
Template Columns
✨ Sludge Surge (Start)
Share new actions or ideas we should absorb to strengthen our team’s performance.
Base column: Start🚫 Toxic Drop (Stop)
Highlight sticky traps or unhelpful behaviors we need to discard for cleaner collaboration.
Base column: Stop💪 Grimer Gains (Continue)
List ongoing efforts or habits that empower our evolution and deserve to be continued.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
Muk Madness uses the playful energy of Pokémon to help teams surface sticky habits to start, toxic practices to stop, and empowering actions to continue. This format encourages honest reflection and clear next steps in a fun, engaging atmosphere.
When to use this template
Use Muk Madness when your team needs to identify both harmful patterns and new opportunities for improvement, especially after a challenging sprint or when things feel stuck.
How to facilitate
Set the scene by introducing the Muk Madness theme and explaining each column so everyone understands the playful analogy.
Timebox 5 minutes for silent brainstorming, asking team members to add their thoughts to each column: new habits (Sludge Surge), things to drop (Toxic Drop), and actions to keep (Grimer Gains).
Invite everyone to review the board and silently upvote or comment on ideas they find most important or interesting.
Facilitate a group discussion starting with the most-voted topics in each column. Encourage participants to share stories, clarify meaning, and build understanding together.
Together, decide on specific action items for what to start, stop, and continue in the next sprint. Assign owners to ensure accountability.
End with a quick round of appreciations to reinforce positive momentum and close the retrospective on a supportive note.
Pro Tips
Lean into the Pokémon theme—use playful language and visuals to break the ice and create a safe environment for honest sharing.
Keep discussions focused by linking examples directly to team goals or values, avoiding blame or finger-pointing.
If participation lags, ask direct, open-ended questions tied to the theme, such as 'What’s feeling especially sticky lately?'
Summarize key decisions visually on the board to ensure clarity and alignment before closing.
FAQ
How do I keep ideas fresh if the team uses Start, Stop, Continue formats often?
Encourage team members to reflect on specific new challenges or recent changes. The themed twist helps prompt different thinking and prevents repetition.
What if our group gets sidetracked by the playful theme?
Allow some fun, but gently remind the team of your goals and the impact these discussions have on continuous improvement.
How do I deal with vague or generic cards under Sludge Surge or Toxic Drop?
Ask follow-up questions to clarify the action or issue. Relate submissions back to concrete team practices for more useful outcomes.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–55 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