The Three Little Pigs Project Build retrospective helps teams reflect on what to start, stop, and continue to strengthen their project, using a playful building metaphor.

When to use this template

This format is ideal at the conclusion of project milestones, after a sprint, or during periods of change to reinforce good habits and address emerging risks.

How to facilitate

Begin by welcoming the team and introducing the Three Little Pigs metaphor, encouraging everyone to think about what makes a project resilient.

Explain each column: Straw Beginnings for new initiatives, Wolf Warnings for things to stop, and Brick Strengths for practices to continue.

Allow team members individual time to add cards to each column, focusing on specific, actionable items.

Invite team members to collaboratively review and discuss each column, grouping similar ideas and clarifying unclear suggestions.

Facilitate a focused discussion on the Wolf Warnings column to identify critical risks or habits to address immediately.

Prioritize action items from each column and assign owners or next steps as needed to ensure follow-through.

Close the session by summarizing the commitments and highlighting positive changes the team will carry forward.

Pro Tips

Start by sharing a quick story or visual related to the Three Little Pigs to set a creative, lighthearted tone.

Encourage team members to use concrete examples and avoid generalities for clearer action points.

Rotate the facilitator to keep sessions fresh and give different team members ownership of the process.

Check in on previous action items at the beginning of the session to reinforce accountability.

FAQ

What if the team struggles to suggest new starts (Straw Beginnings)?

Prompt with open questions or share examples from other teams to inspire creativity and ensure useful suggestions.

How do we handle sensitive feedback in the Wolf Warnings (Stop) column?

Set a tone of psychological safety before starting, and remind everyone that the goal is to improve the project, not to single out individuals.

Is this template suitable for non-technical teams?

Yes, the metaphor and structure adapt well to any team seeking to improve their processes, regardless of domain.

What should we do if most feedback is in one column?

Balance the discussion by specifically inviting input in underused columns to get a complete picture of the team’s experience.

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At a glance

Duration
30–40 min
Team Size
3-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🐷🏠 Three Little Pigs Project Build

Let’s build success brick by brick! Join the pigs as we review what to start, stop, and continue to make our house (project) stronger against the ‘big bad wolf’ of challenges.

Template Columns

🌾 Straw Beginnings (Start)

💨 Wolf Warnings (Stop)

🧱 Brick Strengths (Continue)

About this template