🌪️ Tornado Transformation
Whirl into this tornado-themed retrospective and harness the swirling winds of change! Let’s uncover the elements that fueled our progress, calmed the storm, and what winds should carry us forward to new heights.
Template Columns
🌬️ Spin Up Actions
Share fresh initiatives and new directions that can energize our next sprint.
Base column: Start🛑 Eye of Calm
Identify habits, obstacles, or processes that should be dropped to calm the chaos.
Base column: Stop🌪️ Keep the Updraft
Highlight ongoing actions and strengths that help us ride the wind successfully.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Tornado Transformation retrospective leverages dynamic weather metaphors to help teams identify energizing new actions, calm ongoing chaos, and reinforce their key strengths.
When to use this template
Use this format after intense project phases, periods of rapid change, or when the team feels overwhelmed and needs to refocus and realign.
How to facilitate
Begin by welcoming the team and introducing the tornado metaphor, explaining each column’s purpose for framing the discussion.
Invite everyone to silently add ideas to the three columns: new actions for Spin Up Actions, items to drop for Eye of Calm, and ongoing strengths for Keep the Updraft.
After idea collection, review each column together. Let participants clarify or elaborate on their cards as needed.
Facilitate a team discussion to prioritize key points, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and connecting themes across the columns.
Agree on clear next steps or experiments, especially for energizing actions and calming the chaos, assigning ownership where relevant.
End with a brief reflection: ask the team how they feel about the winds of change and what they’re taking forward into the next cycle.
Pro Tips
Encourage specific examples instead of vague suggestions to generate actionable insights.
Balance optimism with pragmatism—celebrate wins, but also address sources of stress honestly.
Rotate the facilitator role each time you use this template to keep perspectives fresh.
Mix up the brainstorming format (silent, round-robin, breakout rooms) to maintain engagement.
FAQ
How do we keep the discussion from getting chaotic, given the tornado theme?
Guide the team gently back to the columns’ intent if side discussions swirl up. Reinforce the metaphors as prompts for structured brainstorming.
What if team members are hesitant to identify obstacles in the Eye of Calm column?
Normalize challenge-sharing as a way to find calm, not assign blame. Consider anonymous contributions or private chat submissions.
How do we ensure action items don’t get lost in the whirlwind of suggestions?
Summarize key actions at the end, assign clear owners, and agree on check-ins for follow-up in the next retrospective.
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