🎖️ The General’s Strategy Session
Fall in, team! March into this military-themed retrospective to review our project campaign. Report on tactics to start, cease ineffective maneuvers, and reinforce what’s working—so our next mission is pure victory!
Template Columns
🪖 New Orders
Propose fresh strategies and initiatives the squad should start for greater battlefield success.
Base column: Start🚫 Retreat Signals
Identify practices, routines, or habits we must stop to prevent defeat in our goals.
Base column: Stop🎯 Hold the Line
Recognize the winning actions and disciplined routines we should continue in the next campaign.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The General’s Strategy Session is a military-themed retrospective designed to help teams analyze and upgrade their tactics, stopping what doesn’t work, starting bold new strategies, and reinforcing successful actions.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective at the end of a major sprint or project milestone, especially when your team needs a morale boost and a fresh approach to strategy.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by describing the military campaign theme and encourage a spirit of constructive analysis.
Briefly review the team’s recent 'campaign'—the sprint or project period—highlighting key objectives and results.
Ask team members to brainstorm and add cards to the three columns: New Orders for strategies to start, Retreat Signals for things to stop, and Hold the Line for practices to continue.
Allow participants time to read and group similar cards together for each column, discussing themes and clarifying ideas.
Facilitate a focused discussion on each column, prompting the team to prioritize which strategies to implement, abandon, and retain.
Collaboratively define 2-3 concrete action items based on the highest-priority points across the columns.
Summarize the agreed action plan, clearly assigning responsibilities and setting review dates for follow-up.
Pro Tips
Embrace the military metaphor to boost engagement, but keep the atmosphere light and inclusive for all personalities.
Highlight specific examples or data when discussing what to start or stop to ground discussions in real outcomes, not opinions.
Rotate the 'general' facilitator role for added fun and shared ownership among team members.
FAQ
What if our team isn’t comfortable with the military theme?
Adjust the language or metaphors to better fit your team’s vibe while maintaining the core retrospective structure and focus.
How can we prevent the session from only listing negatives?
Prompt the team to balance each Retreat Signal with a Hold the Line or New Orders suggestion, keeping the discussion solution-oriented.
What should I do if action items become too broad?
Encourage the group to break down broad suggestions into smaller, actionable steps with clear ownership and deadlines.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective