A dynamic retrospective that surfaces new ideas, stops counterproductive habits, reinforces strengths, and adapts strategies to keep the team moving like a sleek shark.

When to use this template

Use when the team needs a fresh perspective on what to start, stop, continue, and change, especially after a sprint with mixed outcomes or when facing new challenges.

How to facilitate

Gather the team in a virtual room, set a timer for 45 minutes, and introduce the shark metaphor to frame the discussion

Invite participants to add sticky notes to each column—Start, Stop, Continue, Change—using concise statements

Cluster similar notes in each column and discuss the most impactful items, probing for underlying reasons

Conduct dot voting or emoji reactions to prioritize the top items in each column

Convert the highest‑voted items into concrete action items, assigning owners and target dates

Close by summarizing the commitments and asking for a quick confidence rating from the group

Pro Tips

Encourage participants to think in terms of the shark metaphor—speed, agility, and navigation—to spark creative ideas

Limit each sticky note to one sentence to keep discussion focused and time‑boxed

After the session, capture the action items in a shared board and follow up in the next sprint planning

FAQ

What if the team struggles to generate items for a column?

Prompt with specific examples related to the metaphor, such as asking what new tools could help the team swim faster for the Start column.

How do we keep the discussion from dragging on?

Set a time limit per column (e.g., 8 minutes) and use a visible timer to keep the group focused.

Can we combine this with other retrospective formats?

Yes, you can run this after a quick check‑in or before a deeper root‑cause analysis to surface high‑level insights first.

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-12 people
Columns
4 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue, Change

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🦈🌊 Sharks in the Ocean

Dive into the depths of our project! Navigate waters filled with challenges and opportunities as we hunt for improvements and avoid lurking risks. Let’s swim like a streamlined team of sharks toward our goals!

Template Columns

🐟 Spotting New Currents (Start)

🚫 Avoid the Nets (Stop)

🌊 Streamline Our Swim (Continue)

🔄 Shift the Tides (Change)

About this template