🐾 Secret Life of Agile Pets
Unleash your inner pet! Let's sniff out team successes, dig up obstacles, and fetch new tricks for our next sprint—DreamWorks style!
Template Columns
🐶 Tail-Wagging Triumphs
Share the moments that made tails wag and kept the team purring with joy.
Base column: What Went Well😾 Hairball Hiccups
Reveal the tricky situations or slip-ups that got our fur ruffled.
Base column: What Went Wrong🐦 New Tricks to Learn
Suggest ways we can fetch bigger rewards and sharpen our skills next time.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Secret Life of Agile Pets retrospective invites your team to reflect using playful pet metaphors, helping everyone identify wins, obstacles, and improvements for your next sprint in a fun and engaging way.
When to use this template
This format is perfect when your team needs a creative, light-hearted approach to reflection—especially after intense sprints or to boost energy in remote settings.
How to facilitate
Introduce the retrospective theme and explain the pet-inspired columns, encouraging participants to embrace the playful approach.
Invite everyone to add cards to each column: Tail-Wagging Triumphs (successes), Hairball Hiccups (obstacles), and New Tricks to Learn (improvements).
Allow the team a few minutes to review and discuss cards together, sharing stories and building on each other's observations while keeping the pet theme alive.
Group similar items for each column to highlight key patterns and focus areas.
Facilitate a discussion to decide which 'new tricks' (improvements) the team will commit to in the coming sprint.
End by celebrating the team's creativity and acknowledging shared takeaways.
Pro Tips
Lean into the theme by encouraging participants to use pet-related metaphors or anecdotes for extra engagement.
Model playful vulnerability yourself to set the tone and make it safe for others to share openly.
Prepare themed icebreakers or visual aids (like pet images) to get everyone comfortable and in the spirit.
Remind the team to link proposed improvements to actionable steps, not just fun ideas.
Check in at the end of the session to ensure everyone feels heard and energized.
FAQ
What if my team isn't comfortable with the pet theme?
Introduce the format as optional playfulness. Let participants opt for straightforward language if they prefer—what matters is open sharing, not strict roleplay.
How can we keep the discussion focused and actionable?
Guide the team back to the column intent if discussions wander, and prompt for specific examples and tangible next steps.
What should I do if the team gets too silly or off track?
Balance fun with purpose by refocusing on the themes, using playful language as an icebreaker but maintaining a clear timebox and outcomes.
At a glance
- Duration
35–50 min
- Team Size
4-10 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