What went well, what went wrong, what we want to improve
A focused look at our recent sprint: celebrate successes, acknowledge challenges, and identify concrete improvements for the next cycle.
Template Columns
What Went Well
List the successes and positive outcomes from the sprint.
Base column: What Went WellWhat Went Wrong
Identify the problems, blockers, and mistakes encountered.
Base column: What Went WrongWhat We Want to Improve
Propose actionable steps to enhance our process and results.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
A three‑column sprint review that highlights successes, uncovers problems, and creates concrete improvement actions.
When to use this template
Best for regular sprint retros where the team wants a clear, actionable outcome and quick focus on what worked, what didn’t, and next steps.
How to facilitate
Start with a brief check‑in and set the purpose of the session.
Ask the team to silently add sticky notes to the ‘What Went Well’ column for each success they observed.
Then move to ‘What Went Wrong’ and have everyone write down blockers or mistakes without discussion.
Group similar items in each column, discuss the most impactful points, and capture key takeaways.
Finally, in ‘What We Want to Improve’ each participant proposes specific actions, vote on the top three, and assign owners with due dates.
Pro Tips
Encourage concise notes (one sentence) to keep the board readable.
Use a timer for each column to maintain momentum and avoid over‑analysis.
Turn the top three improvement ideas into SMART action items with clear owners.
FAQ
What if the team is reluctant to share negative feedback?
Assure psychological safety, allow anonymous entries, and frame the ‘What Went Wrong’ column as a problem‑solving opportunity rather than blame.
How many improvement actions should we commit to?
Focus on 2‑3 high‑impact actions; too many dilute ownership and reduce follow‑through.
Can we combine this with other retrospective formats?
Yes, you can start with a quick ‘Mad‑Sad‑Glad’ warm‑up and then move into this three‑column structure for deeper analysis.
What if we run out of time?
Prioritize discussion of the most voted items and defer lower‑priority points to a follow‑up or backlog.
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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