The Summer Days Retreat retrospective template celebrates team wins, addresses recent challenges, and brainstorms actionable improvements, all in a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere.

When to use this template

Use this format at the close of busy sprints or milestone phases when your team could benefit from a fresh perspective, energy boost, and lighter mood.

How to facilitate

Welcome the team and introduce the Summer Days Retreat theme to set a relaxed, positive tone.

Invite everyone to share Sweet Successes, celebrating big and small wins that brightened the project.

Move to Heat Waves and ask team members to highlight recent challenges or situations that intensified pressure.

Transition to Chill Improvements, encouraging the group to brainstorm ways to stay cool, improve workflows, or boost morale in upcoming sprints.

Cluster similar items in each column and facilitate a team discussion around the most impactful topics.

Vote as a team to prioritize which Chill Improvements to try next, turning discussion into action items.

Wrap up with gratitude or a fun summer-themed quick check-out to help everyone end on a high note.

Pro Tips

Incorporate fun summer icebreakers or visuals to loosen up the mood and encourage open sharing.

Remind the team that no challenge is too 'hot' to tackle when you approach it as a group.

Encourage quieter team members to contribute by giving everyone one minute to jot down ideas silently before sharing.

Follow up after the retrospective to celebrate successes and acknowledge progress on improvements.

FAQ

How can I keep the retrospective focused yet upbeat?

Balance celebration with improvement by devoting equal time to each column and using light, encouraging language throughout.

What if we hear the same challenges repeatedly in 'Heat Waves'?

Look for underlying patterns and use 'Chill Improvements' to propose new strategies. Make sure to select one or two concrete actions to break recurring cycles.

How can I get the whole team engaged, not just the usual contributors?

Try silent brainstorming, random speaking order, or breakouts so everyone has a chance to participate in each round.

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🌞 Summer Days Retreat

Let’s soak up our project’s successes like sunshine and cool off with fresh ideas for improvement! Reflect on our 'summer days' together and make every sprint brighter and breezier.

Template Columns

🍧 Sweet Successes

🌡️ Heat Waves

⛱️ Chill Improvements

About this template