🦬🌲 Yellowstone Frontier
Explore the rugged landscape of our project like the Yellowstone series—track the wildlife of wins, the volcanic eruptions of challenges, and chart a path toward thriving ecosystems ahead.
Template Columns
🟢🐂 Bountiful Herds
Celebrate the successes and strong teamwork that roamed like a thriving herd.
Base column: What Went Well⚠️🔥 Geyser Mishaps
Identify the eruptions and setbacks that disrupted our flow.
Base column: What Went Wrong🔧🦅 Soaring Strategies
Plan enhancements to navigate the terrain more efficiently.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
A nature‑themed retrospective that maps wins, challenges, and improvement ideas onto a Yellowstone landscape.
When to use this template
Use when the team wants an engaging, visual way to discuss successes, setbacks, and future strategies, especially after a sprint with mixed outcomes.
How to facilitate
Set the scene by introducing the Yellowstone metaphor and explaining each column’s meaning
Ask participants to add cards to the Bountiful Herds column describing recent successes and strong teamwork
Gather the Geyser Mishaps by having the team note eruptions, blockers, and any painful incidents
Move to Soaring Strategies and let the group suggest ideas to navigate future terrain more efficiently
Group similar strategy cards and vote on the top three to focus on
Turn the top strategies into concrete action items with owners and due dates
Close by reflecting on the session’s energy and thanking the team for their contributions
Pro Tips
Encourage vivid, wildlife‑related language to keep the metaphor alive and boost creativity
Use anonymous sticky notes for sensitive mishaps to promote honesty
Limit each participant to a set number of cards per column to keep discussion focused
FAQ
What if the team struggles to connect the metaphor to real issues?
Prompt them with examples, such as comparing a missed deadline to a geyser eruption, and remind them that the metaphor is a tool, not a constraint.
How many action items should we create?
Aim for three to five high‑impact items; too many dilute focus and reduce follow‑through.
Can this be used for non‑technical teams?
Absolutely—the wildlife and terrain imagery works for any group looking to visualize successes, challenges, and growth areas.
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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