🎵 Symphonic Sprint
Let's compose the symphony of our team's progress! Reflect on the hits and misses, and orchestrate a harmonious plan to fine-tune our performance. Together, we'll keep improving the rhythm of success.
Template Columns
🎶 Top Hits
Celebrate the standout successes that created positive notes during the sprint.
Base column: What Went Well🎵 Missed Beats
Identify where our rhythm faltered or where things went off-key.
Base column: What Went Wrong🎤 Next Solo
Uncover opportunities to refine our harmony and set the stage for a winning encore.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Symphonic Sprint retrospective uses a musical metaphor to explore team successes, identify improvement opportunities, and plan for future growth.
When to use this template
This format is effective after a sprint where creative themes might help reinvigorate team discussions or when teams want a lighter, more engaging format.
How to facilitate
Begin by welcoming all team members and introducing the 'Symphonic Sprint' theme. Explain how this retrospective will help align the team's rhythm through reflection.
Start with the 'Top Hits' column. Ask everyone to share what they think went exceptionally well in the sprint, noting specific examples and celebrating successes.
Move to 'Missed Beats'. Facilitate a discussion about areas where the team faced challenges or deviations from the plan, ensuring an open and constructive tone.
Proceed to 'Next Solo'. Here, encourage the team to brainstorm ways to address the challenges and improve collaboration or processes for the next sprint.
Conclude by summarizing the main takeaways and agreed-upon actions. Assign responsibilities for any identified tasks.
Pro Tips
Use the music theme to create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere—perhaps play light background music or use instruments as props.
Fill in a few cards in advance as examples to set the tone and encourage participation.
Encourage all team members to participate by emphasizing that everyone's input is valuable to harmonize the team.
Timebox each section to ensure the retrospective stays within the allocated time.
Capture action items with clear owners and due dates directly in the retrospective tool.
FAQ
What if some team members are hesitant to discuss the 'Missed Beats'?
Set a constructive tone and emphasize that discussing challenges is a way to improve the team's overall performance.
How do I keep the musical theme relevant without becoming distracting?
Introduce the theme well but keep the focus on the retrospective discussion; small music references suffice to maintain the metaphor without detracting.
Can this format work for remote teams?
Yes, with online tools that support visual collaboration and breakout rooms if needed for smaller group discussions.
What if we run out of time?
Prioritize action items for discussion to ensure outcomes, and save any less critical observations for a future session.
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
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective