🌞🏖️ Summer Holidays Getaway
Pack your bags and join this retro as if we're heading for a summer adventure! Reflect on project wins as sunshiny moments, spot stormy clouds to avoid, and plan which traditions to keep for a summer-long success.
Template Columns
🏊 Dive Into New Adventures
Share the fresh ideas and actions we should start to make our project as fun as a summer escape.
Base column: Start🌵 Avoid the Sunburns
Identify the habits or blockers we need to stop to prevent project ‘sunburns’ and keep our vibes positive.
Base column: Stop🍦 Keep the Cool Traditions
Talk about the great things we’re doing that should continue, like sharing ice cream on a hot day.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Summer Holidays Getaway retrospective invites your team on a virtual adventure, using summer vibes to reflect on new ideas, blockers, and traditions that ensure project success.
When to use this template
Use this retro when you want to infuse energy into team reflection, especially before or after a major project phase, or when seeking a fresh, positive approach to continuous improvement.
How to facilitate
Welcome everyone by setting the playful summer adventure theme and encourage participants to join in the spirit.
Briefly explain the three columns: new adventures (start), sunburns (stop), and cool traditions (continue).
Ask team members to brainstorm and add their thoughts to each column in silence, allowing focus and individual reflection.
Invite participants to review the board, then facilitate a discussion around each column, prioritizing standout points and exploring underlying reasons.
Encourage the team to propose concrete actions or experiments for each insight, especially for starting or stopping practices.
Gather consensus on which actions to try next sprint or cycle and assign owners if needed.
Close by celebrating wins and thanking everyone for contributing to a fun, summery retro.
Pro Tips
Use summer-themed visuals or virtual backgrounds to create a relaxed atmosphere and boost engagement.
Encourage storytelling—ask team members to relate their insights to real 'summer adventures' or project moments for deeper reflection.
Follow up after the retro on the agreed actions, linking them back to the summer getaway metaphor to keep the energy alive.
Mix up the order of discussion (not always start-stop-continue) to keep things fresh if you use this template regularly.
FAQ
What if the team struggles to come up with 'new adventures' or fresh ideas?
Spark creativity by sharing examples or reframing the question—what's something you'd do differently if this were a summer trip?
How do I keep the interaction lively but focused online?
Set clear timeboxes for silent brainstorming and group discussion. Light, friendly banter is great, but gently steer back to action when needed.
Can this retro work for serious project phases?
Yes! The playful theme is meant to lower barriers and promote openness, but the content remains practical and actionable.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–55 min
- Team Size
3-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective