Wind, Anchors, Actions
Set sail on our project journey: feel the wind of progress, drop anchors on obstacles, and chart actions to steer forward.
Template Columns
Wind
Identify the forces that propelled us forward this sprint.
Base column: WindAnchors
Highlight the impediments that held us back and need release.
Base column: AnchorsActions
Define concrete steps to keep momentum and lift the anchors.
Base column: ActionsAbout this template
A nautical‑themed retrospective that celebrates what pushed the team forward, surfaces what held it back, and defines concrete actions to keep sailing.
When to use this template
Best for sprint reviews when you want a balanced view of successes, challenges, and next steps, especially in teams that enjoy visual metaphors.
How to facilitate
Begin with a brief check‑in and explain the wind‑anchor‑action metaphor
Ask participants to silently write down items for each column on virtual sticky notes
Collect the notes in the Wind column, then have the group cluster similar items and discuss the positive forces
Move to the Anchors column, group similar impediments, and explore root causes
For each anchor, brainstorm concrete actions and place them in the Actions column, assigning owners and due dates
Vote on the top three actions to focus on for the next sprint
Close by summarizing commitments and thanking the team
Pro Tips
Use colored emojis or icons on virtual cards to differentiate wind, anchors, and actions at a glance
Limit each participant to three items per column to keep discussion focused
Encourage the team to phrase anchors as problems, not people, to maintain a blameless environment
Turn the top‑voted actions into a shared Kanban board column for visibility
FAQ
What if the team struggles to identify positive winds?
Prompt with specific questions about completed work, stakeholder feedback, or process improvements that helped the sprint.
How do we prevent the Anchors column from becoming a blame session?
Focus on describing the obstacle, not the person, and use ‘What’ statements; facilitate a blameless root‑cause discussion.
What if we have too many actions to tackle?
Prioritize by impact and effort, vote for the top three, and schedule the rest for future sprints or backlog grooming.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Wind, Anchors, Actions
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective