🎉✨ New Year's Eve Resolutions Retro

As we ring in the New Year, let's reflect on the past and set intentions for the future of our project! Share the lessons, leave behind what didn’t work, and carry forward the positive energy to start fresh.
60 minutes
4-12 people
Based on: Start, Stop, Continue
🎉✨ New Year's Eve Resolutions Retro
Template Columns
🕛 Fresh Beginnings

Propose new actions and ideas to kickstart our team's journey into the new year.

Base column: Start
🎆 Out with the Old

Identify what practices or behaviors we should leave behind as we move forward.

Base column: Stop
✨ Carrying the Sparks

Highlight the positive practices and successes to continue fostering in the coming year.

Base column: Continue
About this template

Celebrate the New Year by reflecting on past achievements and challenges, and set intentions for future success.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective at the beginning of the year to encapsulate previous learnings and energize the team with fresh ideas and goals.

How to facilitate
1

Start by welcoming everyone and introducing the purpose of the retro – a reflection of the past year and setting intentions for the future.

2

Explain the three sections of the board: Fresh Beginnings, Out with the Old, and Carrying the Sparks, and provide participants with instructions on how to contribute to each.

3

Allow 10-15 minutes for team members to add their thoughts and suggestions to the respective columns using the template.

4

As the facilitator, guide a discussion for each column, encouraging the team to share highlights, collectively organize contributions, and prioritize actions.

5

Collaboratively create a list of agreed-upon items from the Fresh Beginnings column and assign responsible owners and timelines.

6

Thank everyone for their contributions and wrap up with a unifying message of optimism and commitment for the New Year.

Pro Tips

Encourage everyone to reflect on personal and team-wide learnings to add rich and diverse input.

Use a motivating closing statement to strengthen team alignment and enthusiasm for the year ahead.

Keep the session engaging by sharing a bit of personal optimism or anecdotes from the last year.

FAQ
How can I ensure equal participation?

Start with a quick round where everyone shares one thought, then open the floor for deeper contributions.

What if discussions go off-track?

Politely steer the conversation back to the specific column topics to maintain focus.

Can this template work for a midyear reflection?

Yes, the framework is versatile for reflecting on any increments of time or major changes.

At a glance
  • Duration

    60 minutes

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Start, Stop, Continue

Tags
reflection
goal setting
team alignment
yearly review
personal growth
Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective