đźš‚ Steam Train Journey
All aboard the Agile Express! Let’s travel through the landscape of our project, sharing what fueled our ride and where we can lay new track for improvement. Next stop: smoother collaboration and greater velocity!
Template Columns
🌟 Smooth Rails (Liked)
Share the moments and actions that kept our train running smoothly.
Base column: Liked🛤️ Track Signals (Learned)
Share the lessons and signals that guided us toward better practices.
Base column: Learned🚧 Missing Tracks (Lacked)
Highlight resources or actions that were absent, slowing our journey.
Base column: Lackedđź”” Whistle Wish (Longed For)
Describe what additions or improvements could have made the ride even better.
Base column: Longed ForAbout this template
The Steam Train Journey retrospective helps teams reflect on what fueled progress, the lessons learned, gaps encountered, and wishes for future improvement to ensure smoother collaboration and sustained momentum.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective at the end of a sprint, project phase, or release, especially when you want to energize the team and focus on both wins and actionable improvements.
How to facilitate
Welcome the team, introduce the Steam Train Journey theme, and explain each column so everyone feels comfortable sharing their experiences.
Set a clear frame for the discussion period (e.g., last sprint or project phase) and invite the team to add their thoughts to each column individually and silently.
Once everyone has contributed, invite participants to review the board and group similar items together for clarity and efficiency.
Facilitate a collaborative discussion, encouraging the team to explore root causes, celebrate successes, and clarify lessons learned.
Guide the team to identify key actionable insights from Missing Tracks and Whistle Wish, ensuring votes or priorities are clear.
Create concrete action items, assign ownership, and agree on next steps to address top areas for improvement.
Close the session by acknowledging contributions, reviewing agreed actions, and celebrating collaborative spirit.
Pro Tips
Kick off with a quick icebreaker question related to travel or trains to set a positive tone and engage everyone early.
Encourage quieter team members to add notes or reactions during the silent reflection stage, leveraging anonymous features if available.
Connect lessons learned and missing elements directly to actionable next steps, so improvement ideas don’t get lost.
Revisit previous action items at the start to reinforce accountability and progress.
FAQ
What if the same idea fits in more than one column?
It’s fine to add a point to multiple columns or rephrase it for different perspectives—this can spark richer discussion.
How can we keep the session from running too long?
Timebox each phase, especially the sharing and action-planning steps, and use a facilitator to keep the discussion focused.
What if team members feel uncomfortable sharing what was missing or wished for?
Create psychological safety by emphasizing a blame-free approach and allowing anonymous input if available.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
4 columns
- Base Format
Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective