🌋🐾 Yellowstone Expedition
Explore the geysers of our workflow: ignite fresh ideas, cool down blockers, and keep the thriving ecosystems of success alive.
Template Columns
🌋 Erupt New Initiatives
Launch bold experiments and fresh practices like a geyser burst.
Base column: Start🦌 Halt Hazardous Paths
Identify and cease risky habits that threaten our ecosystem.
Base column: Stop🐻 Preserve the Wild
Maintain the thriving practices that keep our team strong and resilient.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A nature‑themed retrospective that surfaces new ideas, stops harmful habits, and reinforces thriving practices.
When to use this template
Use when the team needs fresh momentum and wants to balance innovation with risk mitigation.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by reminding the team of the expedition metaphor and the three focus areas: erupt new initiatives, halt hazardous paths, and preserve the wild.
Give each participant 3–5 virtual cards and ask them to write brief ideas for each column, one idea per card.
Collect all cards, group similar items within each column, and briefly discuss each group to ensure shared understanding.
Prioritize the items in the 'Erupt New Initiatives' and 'Halt Hazardous Paths' columns by voting with dot stickers or online reactions, selecting the top two or three for action.
Create concrete action items for the selected ideas, assign owners, and capture them in the shared board before closing the session.
Pro Tips
Encourage participants to phrase ideas as observable behaviors rather than abstract concepts to make discussion concrete.
Use a timer for each column discussion to keep energy high and prevent over‑analysis.
After the retro, send a quick visual summary of the board to reinforce commitment.
FAQ
What if the team runs out of ideas for a column?
Prompt with examples or ask participants to recall recent moments that felt successful or problematic; you can also use silent brainstorming for a few minutes to generate more input.
How do we turn the 'Erupt New Initiatives' items into actionable steps?
For each top‑voted idea, define a specific experiment, set a success metric, assign an owner, and schedule a review in the next sprint.
What if some team members dominate the discussion?
Use a round‑robin approach or ask quieter members to share first; in virtual settings, call on participants by name or use the chat to collect thoughts.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
5-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective