The Unpacking Adventure retrospective helps teams reflect on their journey by identifying new practices to adopt, habits to drop, and essentials to keep, streamlining the path ahead.

When to use this template

Use this format when a team has completed a milestone, sprint, or challenging project phase and needs to realign priorities for future work.

How to facilitate

Kick off with a short check-in, asking each team member to share a recent adventure or metaphor for the team’s journey so far.

Explain the three columns: Things to Pack (new ideas to start), Unpack & Leave Behind (habits to stop), and Must-Have Essentials (actions to continue).

Invite everyone to silently brainstorm and add their thoughts in the appropriate columns using digital sticky notes.

Once brainstorming is finished, review the cards as a group, cluster similar items, and ask clarifying questions to ensure shared understanding.

Discuss as a team and prioritize key items for action, focusing on what will have the biggest impact on your work.

Agree on concrete next steps for items in 'Things to Pack' and develop a plan to address 'Unpack & Leave Behind' obstacles.

End with a quick round where each participant shares one insight or commitment from the session.

Pro Tips

Use storytelling or relatable metaphors when introducing columns to make the session more engaging and memorable.

Encourage quieter voices with direct prompts or by using anonymous brainstorming at first.

Review previous sessions to avoid packing or carrying the same 'baggage' every time.

Keep the pace lively: set a visible timer for each section to maintain momentum.

FAQ

What if the team brings up too many items to unpack?

Prioritize together by voting or discussing which items create the heaviest 'load' so focus is on the most impactful changes.

How do I keep the discussion from becoming negative when leaving things behind?

Frame the 'Unpack & Leave Behind' items as opportunities for positive change, not criticism, and encourage appreciation for improvement.

What actions should come from 'Things to Pack'?

Translate these into specific experiments for the next sprint so the team tries new practices in a focused, actionable way.

How can we make sure must-have essentials are not overlooked in future work?

Agree on regular check-ins or lightweight reminders to celebrate and sustain these key practices.

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

📦🧳 Unpacking Adventure

Welcome to our Unpacking Adventure! Let’s sort through our project baggage: open up what we need, leave behind what weighs us down, and keep the essentials for a lighter, more agile journey ahead!

Template Columns

🎒 Things to Pack

✋ Unpack & Leave Behind

🧳 Must-Have Essentials

About this template