🕯️🌙 Sandman’s Dreaming Retrospective
Step into the mystical Dreaming, guided by the Sandman himself. Reflect on what nurtures our dreams (successes), nightmares we must overcome (obstacles), and the enduring magics that keep our work thriving. Let’s shape our project’s future, one dream at a time!
Template Columns
🌱 Seeds of New Dreams (Start)
Suggest new actions and habits we should begin to help our project evolve in the realm of dreams.
Base column: Start⏳ Banished Nightmares (Stop)
Share practices or obstacles we should leave behind, as the Sandman dismisses recurring nightmares.
Base column: Stop💫 Endless Enchantments (Continue)
Identify ongoing successes and strengths—the enchantments that guide our Dreaming forward.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Sandman’s Dreaming Retrospective uses a mystical storytelling theme to help teams reflect on successes, obstacles, and new opportunities. It’s designed to nurture innovation and foster positive change in a creative, engaging way.
When to use this template
Use this format when your team needs fresh perspectives or is seeking to inspire creativity and growth. It’s especially effective after complex sprints, project milestones, or when team morale could use a boost.
How to facilitate
Welcome the team and introduce the Dreaming theme to set a creative tone, encouraging everyone to embrace the metaphorical approach.
Explain each column and its symbolism, clarifying how 'Seeds of New Dreams' encourages new starts, 'Banished Nightmares' addresses what to stop, and 'Endless Enchantments' highlights strengths to continue.
Give everyone time to add their thoughts to each column independently, reminding them to be specific and story-driven where possible.
Invite team members to share their reflections aloud, focusing first on positive enchantments, then banished obstacles, and finally fresh dream seeds.
Facilitate a group discussion to explore patterns, recognize successes, and prioritize which new dreams (actions) to pursue next.
Collaboratively craft action items from the prioritized topics, assigning clear owners and timelines where appropriate.
Close by summarizing key takeaways and celebrating moments of insight, reaffirming the link between dreams and team growth.
Pro Tips
Lean into the storytelling aspect to spark original insights and help quieter voices feel more comfortable contributing.
Use gentle prompts or dream-related questions to help participants reflect beyond surface-level observations.
Encourage creativity by allowing metaphoric or visual contributions, like sketching dream symbols alongside notes.
For recurring retros, reference previous enchantments and dreams to celebrate progress and continuity.
FAQ
What if some team members find the theme too whimsical or offputting?
Invite everyone to engage at their comfort level, focusing on the underlying reflection rather than adhering strictly to the fantasy theme.
How can we ensure real actions come from a metaphor-driven retrospective?
Translate creative reflections into concrete next steps during the action planning phase, aligning metaphors with specific, actionable tasks.
What if the discussion gets stuck on negatives in the 'Banished Nightmares' column?
Guide the team to reframe obstacles as opportunities for new seeds or turning points, emphasizing growth and solutions.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–60 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