🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️ Superheroes Assemble!

Suit up, agile heroes! Reflect on our project’s adventures—celebrate wins, acknowledge challenges, and tackle villains that block our way. Let's unite our strengths for our next epic sprint!
45–60 min
4-12 people
Based on: Glad, Sad, Mad
🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️ Superheroes Assemble!

Template Columns

🦸 Triumphs & Heroics

Share the victories and superpowers that made this sprint special.

Base column: Glad
🦹 Kryptonite Moments

Call out setbacks and challenges that weakened our momentum.

Base column: Sad
💥 Villainous Frustrations

Reveal the blockers or issues that made you want to Hulk out.

Base column: Mad

About this template

Superheroes Assemble! is a dynamic, themed retrospective where teams celebrate wins, share challenges, and tackle blockers together, channeling their inner agile heroes for continuous improvement.

When to use this template

Use this format when your team needs to energize their retros, boost morale, and create a safe space to discuss both victories and obstacles. Ideal post-sprint or after major milestones.

How to facilitate

1

Start by welcoming the team and setting the heroic theme to create an energizing atmosphere

2

Clearly explain the meaning of each column: Triumphs & Heroics for team wins and strengths, Kryptonite Moments for setbacks or challenges, and Villainous Frustrations for blockers

3

Invite everyone to reflect individually and add their thoughts to each column, encouraging honest sharing without judgment

4

Guide the group to review all items together, clustering similar points and asking clarifying questions where needed

5

Facilitate a discussion focusing first on Triumphs & Heroics to boost positivity, then address Kryptonite Moments and Villainous Frustrations, exploring root causes and team perspectives

6

Collectively identify 2–3 key improvement actions or 'heroic missions' for the next sprint

7

Wrap up by acknowledging team strengths and setting a positive tone for what comes next

Pro Tips

Kick off with a quick icebreaker: ask everyone to name their favorite superhero to help break the ice

Model vulnerability by being the first to share a challenge or blocker for psychological safety

Rotate the facilitator role each time to give every team member a chance to lead the heroic charge

Timebox the discussions in each column to maintain energy and ensure every voice is heard

Encourage concrete examples and focus improvement efforts on factors the team can control

FAQ

How do I encourage people to share setbacks or frustrations honestly?

Lead by example and create a safe, non-blaming environment. Remind the team that discussing Kryptonite and Villains helps everyone improve.

Our team gets stuck focusing only on wins or only on problems. How can I balance the discussion?

Make time for each column, moving in order and gently guide the conversation if it drifts. Point out how each perspective is valuable for growth.

What if we have too many action points at the end?

Ask the team to vote on the top actions and focus on a manageable number, turning the rest into a backlog for future retros.

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At a glance

  • Duration

    45–60 min

  • Team Size

    4-12 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    Glad, Sad, Mad

Tags

team energy
celebration
blockers
continuous improvement
fun
morale boost

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective