The Space Crew Onboarding retrospective helps teams reflect on recent onboarding experiences, celebrate what went well, pinpoint obstacles, and collaboratively plan improvements for future onboarding missions.

When to use this template

Use this template after a new team member onboarding wave, or when launching new processes and tools. It's best when fresh onboarding experiences are top-of-mind for team reflection.

How to facilitate

Welcome the team and introduce the space-themed retrospective, setting an open and exploratory tone for sharing onboarding experiences.

Briefly explain each column: Warp Drives for positive onboarding accelerators, Gravity Wells for challenges, and Mission Upgrades for ideas to improve next time.

Invite participants to silently add notes to each column, focusing on their own onboarding observations and ideas.

Facilitate a round of review, where participants read and group similar notes together. Clarify ambiguities and ensure all voices are heard.

Guide a discussion on Gravity Wells to unpack root causes and gather context for key blockers.

Turn focus to Mission Upgrades, having the team brainstorm actionable solutions. Encourage creative, space-inspired thinking!

Together, prioritize 1-2 Mission Upgrades to implement, assigning clear owners for follow-up.

Close by celebrating team progress and reiterating your mission to continually improve onboarding.

Pro Tips

Encourage storytelling by having people share a personal highlight or challenge from their onboarding journey.

Use the theme to break the ice—ask everyone to share a fun cosmic call sign before you start.

Prompt for both technical and cultural onboarding feedback; often, small details make the biggest difference.

Schedule a follow-up to check on the impact of chosen Mission Upgrades.

FAQ

Is this template only for new hires?

No, this retrospective adds value after any type of onboarding, such as adopting new tools, processes, or team structures.

What if team members have very different onboarding experiences?

Highlight the variety during discussion, as it provides a holistic view for your Mission Upgrades. Consider breakout discussions for specific roles or backgrounds.

How do I ensure quieter crew members contribute?

Use silent brainstorming and anonymous digital notes to encourage sharing without spotlight pressure. Actively invite input from all participants during review.

What if there are too many action items?

Collaboratively prioritize the most impactful upgrades and set aside lower priorities for future retrospectives.

Want a custom template?

Create a retrospective template tailored to your team's needs with our AI-powered generator

Try AI Template Generator

At a glance

Duration
35–50 min
Team Size
4-12 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Wind, Anchors, Actions

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🛸🚀 Space Crew Onboarding

Suit up, cadets! As we chart our course through the cosmos, let's reflect on our onboarding journey, identify gravity wells, and set thrusters for better launches next time!

Template Columns

🌠 Warp Drives

🪨 Gravity Wells

🛠️ Mission Upgrades

About this template