three ws
Let's explore the three Ws of our sprint: celebrate successes, uncover challenges, and plan improvements, all while staying true to agile values.
Template Columns
✅ Successes (What Went Well)
Highlight the wins and positive outcomes from the sprint.
Base column: What Went Well❌ Challenges (What Went Wrong)
Identify obstacles and mistakes that hindered progress.
Base column: What Went Wrong🔧 Improvements (What We Want to Improve)
Propose actionable steps to enhance future sprints.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
A focused sprint retrospective that celebrates successes, examines challenges, and defines concrete improvements.
When to use this template
Use when you need a quick, balanced view of the sprint’s positives, negatives, and actionable changes.
How to facilitate
Set the timer for the total session length and explain the three‑column format to the team
Ask participants to silently write individual items for each column on virtual sticky notes
Collect the notes and group similar items together on the board
Facilitate a brief discussion on the Successes column, highlighting key wins
Move to the Challenges column, encouraging open but respectful dialogue about obstacles
For each identified challenge, co‑create specific improvement actions and add them to the Improvements column
Vote on the top three improvement actions and assign owners and due dates
Pro Tips
Use a timer for each column to keep energy high and prevent over‑analysis
Encourage the use of emojis or icons on sticky notes to convey sentiment quickly
Focus the improvement actions on small, testable experiments rather than large overhauls
FAQ
What if the team is reluctant to share challenges?
Set a psychological safety tone at the start, remind that the goal is learning not blame, and use anonymous sticky notes to lower barriers.
How many items should we aim for in each column?
Aim for 3‑5 high‑impact items per column; quality matters more than quantity, and you can prune duplicates during grouping.
What if we run out of time?
Prioritize the Challenges and Improvements columns, and consider extending the discussion in a follow‑up meeting or async channel.
Can we combine this with other retrospective formats?
Yes, you can start with a quick warm‑up and then transition into the three Ws for deeper analysis.
Want a custom template?
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 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