📺 TV Time Traveler
Welcome to the TV Time Traveler Retro! Channel surf through past episodes of our project, spotlight cliffhangers, and decide what's renewed or cancelled for next season. Ready for primetime agility?
Template Columns
🎬 New Episodes to Air
Pitch fresh practices and ideas we should debut in our next project 'season.'
Base column: Start🛑 Cancelled Shows
Vote on habits or processes to take off the air for smoother workflows.
Base column: Stop🍿 Fan Favorites
Highlight routines and team behaviors to keep ‘on air’ for more successful seasons.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The TV Time Traveler retrospective uses a fun, television-themed format to help teams explore new practices, retire ineffective habits, and recognize their winning routines.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective when your team needs to refresh workflows, celebrate successes, and decisively drop outdated habits—especially after a major milestone or project 'season.'
How to facilitate
Open with a brief introduction to the TV Time Traveler theme and explain each column's meaning using easy TV analogies.
Invite everyone to reflect individually and write notes for each column: new practices to pilot, processes to retire, and successful routines to keep.
Host a round of sharing where team members pitch their 'New Episodes'—fresh ideas for the next iteration.
Discuss votes for 'Cancelled Shows' and agree on what team habits should be taken off the air, clarifying the reasons behind these decisions.
Turn to 'Fan Favorites' and let the team spotlight which established habits should continue, ensuring everyone has a voice.
Highlight themes, resolve any questions, and prioritize the most important action items from the discussion.
Wrap up by assigning owners for action items and ending with a light, forward-looking group check-out—perhaps asking what TV show best describes your last sprint.
Pro Tips
Add a playful icebreaker, like sharing the team’s favorite TV show, to set a creative tone.
Encourage specific examples for each category to foster more actionable discussions.
Use timeboxing for each section to keep the session engaging and on track.
Remind the team that 'Cancelled Shows' are about improving, not blaming—focus on processes, not people.
Regularly rotate retro themes for variety and sustained engagement.
FAQ
What if some team members are hesitant to 'cancel' certain habits?
Build psychological safety by reinforcing that cancellations are about continuous improvement, not judging people. Encourage open dialogue and make sure everyone understands the positive intent.
How can we ensure new ideas from 'New Episodes to Air' actually get trialed?
Make each new idea actionable and assign an owner or pilot for the next sprint. Check progress in upcoming retros.
What if the discussion gets off-track with unrelated TV references?
Remind the team of the goal and gently steer conversations back to actionable topics when needed.
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