🌞🏖️ Summer Breeze

Get ready to bask in the warmth of progress! As summer draws near, let’s reflect on our sprint by uncovering cool wins, melting away blockers, and keeping the sunshine on what works best. Bring your shades and sunny attitudes!
30–45 min
3-10 people
Based on: Start, Stop, Continue
🌞🏖️ Summer Breeze
Template Columns
🌱 Plant New Seeds

Discuss fresh initiatives or habits to start as we gear up for a bright season ahead.

Base column: Start
🧊 Melt Away the Old

Share practices or roadblocks to stop, helping us clear the clouds for a sun-filled journey.

Base column: Stop
🌞 Keep the Sun Shining

Celebrate ongoing actions that help us thrive like summer days, and plan to continue them!

Base column: Continue
About this template

Summer Breeze invites your team to reflect with a positive, seasonal twist—planting new ideas, melting away blockers, and keeping bright routines alive.

When to use this template

This retrospective is perfect during periods of seasonal change, before or after major milestones, or when team energy needs a refresh.

How to facilitate
1

Start with a brief welcome and light-hearted check-in to set a sunny, upbeat tone

2

Describe the three columns and their seasonal themes: Plant New Seeds (new initiatives), Melt Away the Old (stop or improve), and Keep the Sun Shining (continue)

3

Invite team members to add notes for each column, focusing on actionable items and real examples

4

Facilitate a group discussion, clustering similar ideas and encouraging everyone to share their perspectives

5

Prioritize which new seeds to plant and agree on specific actions for melting away blockers, then celebrate what you'll keep shining on

6

Document decisions and assign owners for action items to ensure progress after the session

7

Close by gathering quick feedback on the session and ending with a fun summer-themed farewell

Pro Tips

Use light, playful prompts or imagery to keep energy high and participants engaged

Encourage everyone to tie their feedback back to the summery theme for a fun, focused session

Review recent actions or metrics before the retro to inspire more concrete ideas

Keep the flow moving—avoid dwelling too long on negatives and celebrate achievements

FAQ
How can we encourage creative ideas in the Plant New Seeds column?

Use prompts tied to the summer theme and invite wild or experimental suggestions. Emphasize psychological safety so all voices feel welcome.

What if the same blockers appear multiple times under Melt Away the Old?

Cluster similar items and discuss underlying causes. Agree on prioritized, team-owned actions to address persistent issues.

What’s the best way to celebrate ongoing wins under Keep the Sun Shining?

Highlight specific examples, share shout-outs, and consider a light ritual, such as a virtual toast or sharing sunshine emojis in chat.

At a glance
  • Duration

    30–45 min

  • Team Size

    3-10 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Start, Stop, Continue

Tags
seasonal
team morale
reflection
action-oriented
engagement
positive
continuous improvement
Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective