Start, Stop, Continue Template
Evaluate your last sprint with the Start, Stop, Continue Retrospective Template. Get your team's feedback, set actionable points at the end of an agile sprint or project, and help your team improve and move forward.
Trusted by 65M+ users and leading companies
About the Start, Stop, Continue Template
The Start, Stop, Continue Template helps teams run a retrospective and start looking at specific actions they should start, stop, and continue doing. Together with your collaborators, you can agree on the most important steps to be more productive and successful, setting actionable points at the end of the session.
What is Start Stop Continue?
Giving and receiving feedback is challenging. It’s hard to look back over a quarter or even a week and parse a set of decisions into “positive” and “negative.” The Start, Stop, Continue framework makes it easier to reflect on your team’s last sprint and experiences. It’s a simple but powerful tool that empowers individuals and teams to decide what they want to change when moving forward.
The Start, Stop, Continue Template divides activities and decisions into three categories: things to start doing, things to stop doing, and things to continue forming part of your processes.
Why use the Start, Stop, Continue Template?
The Start, Stop, Continue Retrospective allows everyone to review the actions they've taken in the last sprint and determine which ones are worth stopping or continuing. It also makes it easy for team members to think about new actions they should begin doing. Each item results in behavioral change, with actionable points.
When should you use the Start, Stop, Continue template?
Many product and development teams use the Start, Stop, Continue Retrospective template at the end of an agile sprint. Other departments, such as design or marketing, might find it is most useful at the end of an entire project, quarter, or event.
The Start, Stop, Continue Template gives you a great overview of how projects run and where teams can iterate. After running a retrospective session, everyone can come out with actionable points to improve processes and become more efficient.
The 3 elements of Start, Stop, Continue Template
The Start, Stop, Continue Template has a straightforward format, and it contains three blocks where you will add:
1. Start: What should you start doing?
These are activities and behaviors to improve your processes, reduce waste, and positively impact the way your team functions. Think about technical and behavior elements that might fall into this category.
What tools should you start using? Is there a communication style that might work better for your team?
2. Stop: What should you stop doing?
These activities and behaviors are inefficient, wasteful, or have a negative impact on the way your team functions. Again, it’s important to consider both technical and behavioral elements.
Is your team using a tool that doesn’t work for you? Is there a meeting style or a communication method that isn’t working?
3. Continue: What should you keep doing?
These are activities and behaviors that you’ve tried out and liked but that isn’t yet part of your core processes. Take stock of the tools and methods you’ve experimented with since the last review cycle.
What would you like to continue?
How often should I use the Start, Stop, Continue Retrospective?
You can make the Star, Stop, Continue retrospective at the end of projects or sprints. Different teams will have a different cadence when it comes to the frequency of the retro. Evaluate what’s best for yours and what makes sense.
How do you facilitate Start, Stop, Continue Retrospective?
To run the retrospective, begin sending invites to your team. Create a board and select the Start, Stop, Continue Template. Start the session by asking members to brainstorm about the three aspects of the retro and set a timer. After everyone has added their ideas and thoughts, start grouping the stickies and discuss common themes. In the end, write actionable points and follow-up on changes and behaviors to track improvement. The Start, Stop, Continue Template can be saved and consulted later on.
Get started with this template right now.
Product Inception Canvas
Works best for:
Product Management, Planning
The Product Inception Canvas template facilitates collaborative sessions for defining product visions and strategies. By exploring product goals, user needs, and market opportunities, this template aligns teams around a shared vision. With sections for defining product features, prioritizing initiatives, and setting success criteria, it provides a structured framework for product inception. This template serves as a launchpad for innovative product ideas, guiding teams through the initial stages of product development and setting the foundation for success.
OKR Drafting Board
Works best for:
Agile
The OKR Drafting Board (New) is a visual tool for defining and tracking Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). It provides a structured framework for setting ambitious goals, defining measurable outcomes, and aligning teams around shared objectives. This template enables organizations to articulate their strategic priorities, track progress transparently, and foster accountability and alignment across teams. By promoting focus, alignment, and agility, the OKR Drafting Board empowers organizations to achieve breakthrough results and drive continuous improvement.
All-in-one PI Planning
Works best for:
Agile
The All-in-one PI Planning template streamlines the SAFe Program Increment (PI) Planning process by providing a comprehensive framework for teams to collaboratively plan and align on objectives and dependencies. It integrates essential elements such as PI Objectives, Team Breakouts, and Program Board, enabling teams to visualize, prioritize, and coordinate work effectively. This template empowers Agile Release Trains to deliver value predictably and efficiently, driving alignment and synchronization across the organization.
Growth Experiments Template
Works best for:
Leadership, Desk Research, Strategic Planning
Many ambitious companies are eying the future and aiming to grow. But growth decisions can be leaps of faith that are risky and costly. That’s why growth experiments make so much sense. They offer a systematic six-step method that reveals which strategies are most effective, how they’ll affect your revenue, and how they compare to your past approaches. By helping you test out your strategies for scaling your business before you fully commit, growth experiments can save you serious time, resources, and money.
I Like | I Wish | I Wonder
Works best for:
Agile
Feedback is a key part of any project development and crucial to the iterative process.
The Team Canvas (Basic)
Works best for:
Agile
The Team Canvas (Basic) offers a simplified framework for aligning on goals, roles, and processes within Agile teams. It provides structure for defining purpose, clarifying responsibilities, and visualizing the working environment. By fostering open communication and shared understanding, this template facilitates collaboration and increases team cohesion, empowering you to create a shared vision and drive collective success.