🪞 Reflections Within
Take a mindful moment to turn the mirror inwards—this retro is all about personal growth, self-discovery, and nurturing the agile mindset within each of us. Let's share, support, and celebrate our inner journeys!
Template Columns
🌟 Self-Appreciations
Share the positive actions, qualities, or habits you noticed and liked in yourself this sprint.
Base column: Liked📚 Self-Realizations
Reveal fresh insights or personal lessons that helped you grow or see things differently.
Base column: Learned🛑 Personal Barriers
Identify what held you back, whether habits, distractions, or gaps in self-care this sprint.
Base column: Lacked💠Aspirations & Inspirations
Express what you wish for your own development, be it skills, mindsets, or opportunities.
Base column: Longed ForAbout this template
Reflections Within is a mindful retrospective template focused on personal growth, encouraging each team member to explore their self-appreciations, realizations, barriers, and aspirations from the last sprint.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective when the team needs to pause and invest in individual development, build self-awareness, or boost morale after a challenging or intense sprint.
How to facilitate
Open with a short grounding exercise to help everyone shift into a reflective and mindful mindset.
Introduce each column, emphasizing psychological safety, confidentiality, and the personal nature of this retro's focus.
Allow participants time to quietly add thoughts to each column, encouraging authentic and honest input.
Go column by column, inviting volunteers to share highlights with the group. Facilitate gentle discussion and supportive feedback.
Use the Aspirations & Inspirations column to brainstorm practical follow-ups or development actions the team or individuals can take.
Close with a gratitude round, asking everyone to acknowledge one thing they’re proud of or grateful for in themselves or a peer.
Pro Tips
Encourage others to build on each other's insights and realizations to foster a continuous learning culture.
Model vulnerability by sharing your own reflections first as facilitator.
Balance time spent on sharing between columns to prevent the session from becoming too self-critical or one-sided.
Check in after the session to see if team members need individual support or want to pursue development goals further.
FAQ
What if team members are hesitant to share personal reflections?
Create a safe and non-judgmental space, make sharing optional, and consider anonymous input for more sensitive columns.
How do I keep this retrospective from becoming too focused on negatives?
Balance each discussion about barriers with time for appreciations and aspirations. Actively encourage uplifting and supportive comments.
Can we use this for team-level topics, too?
While this retro is focused on individuals, you can adapt the columns slightly to invite both personal and collective insights.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
4 columns
- Base Format
Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective