🍁 Oh, Canada! Retro
Welcome to the Great White North of retros! Together, we'll share our project moments with Canadian warmth, honesty, and collaboration—like true teammates at a bonspiel. Let’s map out a smoother path, full of success and maple-flavored improvements.
Template Columns
🥞 Maple Syrup Moments to Start
Suggest new ideas and improvements to pour into our process like sweet maple syrup on pancakes.
Base column: Start🦫 Beaver Dams to Stop
Identify blockers, annoyances, or habits we should dam up for a better flow—just like a clever beaver.
Base column: Stop🛷 Keep Sleddin’
Highlight the practices and successes we should keep riding forward, as smoothly as a sled on fresh Canadian snow.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Oh, Canada! Retro celebrates teamwork and progress with a friendly, Canadian-inspired twist, helping teams discuss improvements, remove blockers, and reinforce strengths.
When to use this template
This format is perfect when the team needs a fresh, engaging way to reflect on their work, especially after a major milestone or when morale could use a boost.
How to facilitate
Set the scene with a warm Canadian welcome and introduce the theme and column meanings to encourage open, friendly sharing.
Ask participants to add notes in each column: sweet ideas for improvements, blockers or pain points, and things that worked well.
Allow everyone a few minutes to silently read and react to each other's contributions to build shared understanding.
Facilitate a group discussion for each column, asking clarifying questions and encouraging participants to identify patterns or themes.
Prioritize the most actionable points in each column, focusing especially on what to start and stop based on team input.
Collaboratively agree on concrete action items, assigning owners and setting expectations for follow-up.
End on a positive note by appreciating the team's honesty and collaborative energy, affirming your commitment to continual improvement.
Pro Tips
Use humorous or Canadian-flavored icebreakers to set a relaxed, open tone.
Encourage honest feedback by modeling vulnerability—share both your 'dams' and 'maple syrup moments'.
Balance discussion time across columns so solutions and celebrations get as much focus as concerns.
If a topic sparks debate, acknowledge all perspectives and suggest a follow-up discussion if needed.
FAQ
What if team members struggle to think of 'Maple Syrup Moments'?
Prompt them to reflect on recent changes, big or small, or invite everyone to recall a moment when things went noticeably better.
How do we avoid getting stuck on blockers in the 'Beaver Dams' column?
Set a time limit for discussing each dam and make it clear you'll follow up on complex issues separately.
Is this format suitable for serious or high-pressure projects?
Yes, the warmth of the theme encourages honest, productive conversation even for tough topics—just remember to keep focus on action and outcomes.
At a glance
- Duration
40–55 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective