🌧️ Rainy Day Reflections
Cloudy skies can't dampen our spirits! Let's use this rainy-themed retro to refresh our processes, wash away blockers, and nurture growth like new sprouts after a downpour.
Template Columns
☔ Open Umbrellas (Start)
Share fresh practices or ideas we should start using to shield us from project storms.
Base column: Start💧 Drop the Drizzle (Stop)
Identify habits or processes that cloud our productivity and need to be stopped.
Base column: Stop🌱 Growing Green (Continue)
Highlight effective routines we should continue to nourish for ongoing team growth.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
Rainy Day Reflections is a spring-themed retrospective encouraging your team to refresh routines, clear away blockers, and nurture positive growth together.
When to use this template
This format works best after a challenging project phase or when the team needs to renew practices and wash away obstacles. Use it anytime you want to lift morale and cultivate mindful habits.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by welcoming the team and inviting everyone to bring their rainy day best—remind them of the theme and goal for the session.
Review the three columns and their focus: Open Umbrellas is for new actions, Drop the Drizzle for things to stop, and Growing Green for ongoing strengths.
Give team members a few quiet minutes to add reflections to each column, either anonymously or with their names, emphasizing honesty and constructive feedback.
Invite everyone to walk through the cards together; group similar ideas and encourage clarifying questions, ensuring all voices are heard.
Discuss and prioritize items the team agrees are most impactful—especially those that could lead to immediate improvements or require quick adjustments.
Close by defining clear action items for the next sprint: assign owners and agree to revisit the results at the next retro.
Pro Tips
Encourage specific examples rather than general statements to surface actionable insights.
Use the theme to make the mood light—allow playful language and gentle humor to create psychological safety.
If participation slows, offer prompts tied to weather: What would brighten our day? What puddles are we always stepping in?
Review previous retro actions so you can celebrate what blossomed and address what got left in the rain.
FAQ
How do I keep the team engaged using this theme?
Lean into playful weather metaphors and encourage creativity. The more you tie examples to the theme, the more memorable and interactive the session becomes.
What if suggestions in 'Open Umbrellas' are too ambitious?
Help the team break down ideas into smaller, testable actions so you can try them out without risk. Start with a pilot or experiment before making big changes.
How do we ensure accountability for agreed-on actions?
Assign clear owners and deadlines for each action. Make time in the next retro to check in on progress, so improvements don’t get washed away.
At a glance
- Duration
30–40 min
- Team Size
3-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective