🧜♀️🌊 The Little Mermaid Retro
Dive under the sea and explore our project through Ariel’s eyes! Let’s discover hidden pearls (successes), dodge seaweed (blockers), and ride the currents toward better teamwork. Ready your tridents—let’s make a splash!
Template Columns
🌅 Discover New Shores
What fresh ideas or changes should we start, just like Ariel exploring new worlds?
Base column: Start🦑 Escape the Seaweed
Which habits, processes, or blockers should we leave behind to swim more freely?
Base column: Stop🐚 Treasure Our Pearls
What valuable practices and successes deserve to be cherished and continued under the sea?
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
This undersea-themed retrospective encourages teams to identify fresh ideas, remove blockers, and celebrate successes using The Little Mermaid as creative inspiration.
When to use this template
Use this template after project milestones, sprints, or when your team needs a refreshed approach to sharing wins and addressing challenges.
How to facilitate
Begin with a brief explanation of the Mermaid theme and each column, encouraging everyone to adopt a playful underwater mindset.
Invite team members to privately add their thoughts to the three columns: new ideas (Discover New Shores), blockers (Escape the Seaweed), and successes (Treasure Our Pearls).
Reveal all contributions and group similar items together as a team, clarifying any points as needed.
Facilitate a team discussion to explore which ideas to pursue, how to address obstacles, and how to sustain positive practices.
Vote on the most impactful items in each column if time allows, focusing attention on actionable outcomes.
Summarize action items and assign clear ownership, then close with a round of appreciations or a fun undersea-themed closing thought.
Pro Tips
Use character prompts or images from The Little Mermaid to encourage creative thinking and break the ice.
Encourage quieter team members by calling on them to share or using chat features for anonymous input.
Set a visible timer for each phase to help the team stay focused and energized.
Prompt detailed examples rather than general statements to surface actionable insights.
FAQ
How do I keep the theme from becoming distracting?
Briefly introduce the theme at the start, then keep the process grounded in real work challenges and team goals.
What if team members are unfamiliar with The Little Mermaid?
Offer a brief lighthearted overview and focus on the core principle: exploring new ideas, removing blockers, and celebrating wins.
How can we encourage honest contributions in a playful retro?
Set psychological safety upfront and remind the team that the theme is a tool for creativity, not a barrier to open sharing.
At a glance
- Duration
35–50 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