🤖 Skynet Awakening
Join the resistance! In this Skynet-themed retro, analyze our team's journey like a squad of rebels facing the AI uprising. Identify upgrades, terminate bad habits, and reinforce what keeps us resilient. Will we outsmart the machine?
Template Columns
⚡ Initiate Protocols
Suggest powerful new actions or processes to give our team an edge in the fight against project challenges.
Base column: Start💥 Terminate Threats
Highlight ineffective habits or blockers we need to eliminate before they become self-aware.
Base column: Stop🛡️ Reinforce Firewalls
Point out reliable strengths and routines to keep supporting our mission, just like well-defended firewalls.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Skynet Awakening retrospective uses a fun, high-stakes AI resistance theme to help teams identify new actions, eliminate blockers, and reinforce their strengths.
When to use this template
Use this retro when your team needs a creative approach to examining habits and processes—especially during times of rapid change, technical challenges, or when energy needs a boost.
How to facilitate
Kick things off by summarizing the Skynet theme and encourage everyone to adopt their inner 'resistance fighter' mindset for a fun, imaginative session.
Review each column—Initiate Protocols, Terminate Threats, Reinforce Firewalls—explaining what types of insights belong in each.
Give participants time to reflect and contribute notes in all columns, focusing on what could give the team a strategic edge, what must be eliminated, and what supports resilience.
Invite team members to group and discuss similar notes together, exploring themes and root causes for issues or successes.
Facilitate a discussion about which protocols (actions or processes) would neutralize threats and strengthen firewalls, drawing direct links between ideas and real team challenges.
Ask the team to prioritize a small set of concrete, high-impact actions to implement after the retro, assigning clear owners where possible.
Close by reflecting on how the resistance mindset can help the team approach future challenges with confidence and creativity.
Pro Tips
Tie retro themes back to real work whenever possible, connecting fun metaphors to actionable change.
Encourage playful participation by allowing team members to use code names or sci-fi phrases for contributions.
If energy dips, have a quick themed icebreaker like ‘What’s your robot name?’ to re-engage the group.
Remind the team that 'threats' can be subtle—encourage honest reflection without fear of blame.
FAQ
What if team members get too caught up in the theme and lose focus?
Bring conversations back to real examples regularly, using the theme to spark creativity rather than distract. Remind everyone of the session’s goals.
How do we ensure suggested 'protocols' are actionable?
Facilitate discussion to clarify and break down big ideas into specific next steps before ending the session.
What if some team members are hesitant to speak up about 'threats'?
Invite anonymous input, and remind the group that open feedback helps everyone improve and defeat blockers together.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective