🏴☠️ Sailing with Pirates
Ahoy, mateys! Uncover the treasures and perils of our sprint while navigating rough waters. Share the victories, learn from the challenges, and steer our ship toward greater success.
Template Columns
💰 Plundered Treasures
Share the valuable successes and lessons learned during our voyage.
Base column: What Went Well🌊 Treacherous Waters
Discuss the challenges and obstacles that caused trouble during the journey.
Base column: What Went Wrong🗺️ Course Corrections
Suggest improvements and actions for smoother sailing ahead.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The 'Sailing with Pirates' retrospective uses a maritime theme to reflect on a team's achievements, obstacles faced, and improvements for the future.
When to use this template
Use this template after a sprint or project to creatively engage the team in evaluating their process and outcomes.
How to facilitate
Set up the board with the three columns 'Plundered Treasures,' 'Treacherous Waters,' and 'Course Corrections,' providing a brief explanation of each.
Explain the goal of the session is to use the pirate theme to discuss wins, challenges, and potential improvements to how the team works.
Encourage team members to add cards to each column, highlighting specific instances, thoughts, and actionable ideas.
Once input slows, review each column together, grouping similar ideas and ensuring everyone understands the topics posted.
Facilitate a discussion focusing on actionable insights, especially looking at challenges and suggested improvements.
Agree on a set of action items derived from the key points in 'Course Corrections' to implement in the next iteration.
Close the session by thanking the team for their contributions and summarizing the main takeaways.
Pro Tips
Use pirate lingo sparingly to add humor and engagement but ensure clarity remains intact.
Encourage team members to think of creative titles for their cards, aligning with the theme to make the session more enjoyable.
Remind the team to focus on respectful, constructive feedback, avoiding blame or negativity.
As facilitator, bring props or virtual backgrounds related to pirates to set a fun atmosphere.
Allow a short time for personal reflection before contributing to ensure thoughtful input.
FAQ
How do I ensure participants stay focused and don't get overly distracted by the theme?
Balance the thematic elements with structured facilitation to guide the session effectively. Remind participants about the goal of the meeting at the start.
What if the team struggles to come up with input?
Foster brainstorming by sharing a few examples yourself or encourage participants to recall specific stories or moments during the sprint.
Is this theme suitable for all teams?
While themes like 'Sailing with Pirates' add fun, consider your team's culture and adjust as needed to ensure engagement without discomfort.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective