🕊️ Whit Saturday Wisdom
Gather in the spirit of renewal and inspiration! Let’s reflect on fresh beginnings, release old habits, and nurture shared growth—just as Whit Saturday bridges tradition and transformation.
Template Columns
🌱 Seeds to Sow
Share new practices or ideas we should begin to foster team renewal.
Base column: Start🔥 Bonfire of Old Ways
Reveal the habits and hurdles we should leave behind to embrace positive change.
Base column: Stop🕯️ Steadfast Flames
Highlight what traditions and strengths we should carry forward and keep alive.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Whit Saturday Wisdom retrospective helps your team reflect on new beginnings, let go of unhelpful habits, and reinforce core strengths for growth and renewal.
When to use this template
Use this template at times of transition, after major releases, or when the team needs to shed unhelpful patterns and embrace fresh energy.
How to facilitate
Open with a brief reflection on renewal and the power of change, setting an inclusive tone for growth and inspiration.
Introduce each column: new ideas to plant, habits to let go, and strengths to sustain, making sure everyone understands the metaphor.
Individually or in breakout groups, invite team members to add thoughts under each column, encouraging honest and forward-thinking contributions.
Cluster similar points together, discussing themes that emerge and why these seeds, habits, and traditions are relevant right now.
Facilitate a team discussion around which new ideas to prioritize, which habits or hurdles are holding the team back most, and which strengths to intentionally nurture.
Help the team select concrete actions or experiments from each column to carry into the next cycle, assigning ownership where helpful.
Close the session with gratitude for openness, summarizing key insights and reinforcing the spirit of transformation.
Pro Tips
Ask team members to reflect quietly for a minute before sharing to encourage deeper insights rather than surface-level answers.
Use visual symbolism (like fire, seeds, or candles) in your digital board to reinforce the retrospective's transformative spirit.
Invite each person to share one small, personal 'old way' they want to let go, making space for vulnerability and team support.
FAQ
What if team members feel uncomfortable letting go of old habits?
Address the change with empathy and celebrate past contributions while explaining the benefits of renewal. It helps to frame letting go as a step toward collective growth.
How do we avoid repeating the same 'start' items every retrospective?
Review previous action items before this session and encourage genuinely new suggestions. Ask team members to focus on the current context and specific challenges.
What’s the best way to track follow-up actions after this session?
Document action points clearly in your team tool, assign ownership, and revisit them in future retros to keep the transformation process visible and ongoing.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective