⛵ Sailing Voyage
Climb aboard and set sail on our agile journey! Chart a course for success by reflecting on what to begin, abandon, and keep steering forward as if we’re a crew navigating toward smoother waters.
Template Columns
🧭 Unfurl New Sails
Suggest new actions and ideas we should start to help our voyage progress smoothly.
Base column: Start⚓ Drop the Anchor
Identify practices or habits we should stop to avoid running aground.
Base column: Stop🌊 Steady as She Goes
Highlight what we should continue doing to keep our sails filled and momentum steady.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Sailing Voyage retrospective helps agile teams reflect on their journey by examining what to start, stop, and continue, using a maritime crew metaphor to spark discussion and alignment.
When to use this template
This format works best at the end of a sprint or milestone, especially when your team seeks a fun, thematic way to evaluate their processes and direction.
How to facilitate
Open the session by introducing the Sailing Voyage metaphor and explaining each column's purpose for guiding reflection.
Invite each team member to brainstorm and add ideas to each column privately for a few minutes.
Review the suggestions together as a crew, encouraging everyone to expand on their thoughts and share specific examples for each column.
Group similar cards and discuss which actions or habits are most critical to begin, abandon, or maintain moving forward.
Guide the team to agree on 1–2 actionable items from each column to focus on until the next retrospective.
Summarize the main takeaways, assign responsibility if needed, and celebrate positive momentum towards the team's goals.
Pro Tips
Encourage storytelling by framing inputs as sailing adventures or cautionary tales for stronger team engagement.
Use the metaphor to help reframe negative feedback constructively—focus on what keeps the journey smooth rather than assigning blame.
Prompt quieter team members with open questions to ensure all voices are heard in each column.
Set time limits for idea generation and discussion to keep energy high and prevent drift.
FAQ
What if our discussions get stuck on negatives or complaints?
Encourage balance by steering the conversation toward solutions and celebrating steady or positive actions, using the sailing theme to keep dialogue constructive.
How can we generate fresh ideas if the team feels stuck?
Spark creativity by asking the team to imagine their ideal voyage and what would make their journey smoother. Use prompts or example scenarios if needed.
Is this retrospective suitable for large teams?
It's best for smaller groups (up to 10). For larger crews, break into sub-teams for brainstorming and reconvene to share highlights.
At a glance
- Duration
35–50 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