The Trolls' Bridge Retro helps teams identify fresh ideas to start, habits to stop, and practices to continue for stronger teamwork and fewer obstacles.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective when your team needs to refresh habits, address recurring blockers, or celebrate practices driving success. It's great for sprint-end reviews or after noticeable team changes.

How to facilitate

Briefly introduce the Trolls' Bridge theme to set a playful, open tone and review the three columns: Seeds to Plant (start), No More Troll Trouble (stop), and Keep the Troll Magic Flowing (continue)

Invite each team member to add reflections and observations to all columns, aiming for at least one idea per area

Give the team time to read and discuss contributions, focusing first on actionable 'Seeds to Plant' and blockers in 'No More Troll Trouble'

Facilitate group discussion to cluster similar topics, clarify unclear comments, and build shared understanding

Prioritize which new actions to try and which blockers to address next sprint; capture these as concrete action items

Recap the top keep/continue practices and agree how to maintain them, giving shoutouts for positive contributions

Close the session by sharing final thoughts and confirming responsibilities for follow-up actions

Pro Tips

Encourage honesty and humor to keep the mood light and constructive, preventing criticism from feeling personal

Prompt for small, experiment-size 'troll seeds' rather than only large process changes; incremental ideas are easier to try

If blockers are too vague, ask clarifying questions or for specific examples to help the team focus improvement

Check that continue items are genuinely valued, not just habits by inertia

FAQ

What if the same blockers appear every retrospective?

Acknowledge them, but dig deeper to uncover root causes or try a new approach to resolving them this sprint.

How can I help quieter team members participate?

Use anonymous board features and invite written input before discussion, then ensure all perspectives are revisited aloud by the facilitator.

How do we pick which new ideas to action when there are too many?

Use dot voting or a short team discussion to select the most valuable or feasible ideas for the upcoming sprint.

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At a glance

Duration
35–50 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

🧌 Trolls' Bridge Retro

Cross the bridge in our Trolls' Retro! Let’s unearth hidden gems (ideas to start), avoid the pitfalls (habits to stop), and gather under the troll bridge to share what’s working. Make this sprint more magical (and less troll-ish)!

Template Columns

🌱 Troll Seeds to Plant

🚫 No More Troll Trouble

🪄 Keep the Troll Magic Flowing

About this template