Retro Remix: Be My Valentine

This comprehensive template is here to help product managers, project managers, and engineers swoon over their recent sprint achievements and dance to the rhythm of continuous learning. Get ready to fall head over heels for this fun and engaging way to conduct retrospectives, where team collaboration is the key to our happily ever after!

How to use this template

Follow the steps below to get the most of this workflow.

1. Icebreaker — Love Thermometer

Start your retrospective session with the Love Thermometer icebreaker. This activity sets the tone for open and honest communication by asking participants to rate their feelings about the sprint on a scale from cold to hot. Simply place a token on the thermometer to indicate your sentiment.

2. Discussion prompts

Proceed to the discussion prompts section, where you'll find a series of thought-provoking questions to guide your retrospective conversation. These prompts are divided into three categories:

• Positives (What did you love in this sprint? Where were our positives?): Reflect on the highlights and successes of the sprint. Discuss what went well, celebrate achievements, and acknowledge team members' contributions.

• Challenges (Like a box of chocolates, how did we handle the variety and challenges? Were there any surprises?): Identify the challenges faced during the sprint. Explore how the team handled unexpected situations, managed complexity, and adapted to changes. Discuss any surprises encountered along the way.

• Lessons learned (What left us heartbroken? What were our biggest challenges?): Delve into the lessons learned during the sprint. Discuss areas where the team faced difficulties or encountered setbacks. Identify opportunities for improvement and growth.

3. Love heart dot vote

Next, use the Love Heart tokens to conduct a dot voting exercise. Each participant can distribute their tokens among the most important or impactful tickets on the board. This activity helps prioritize issues and focus on areas that require immediate attention or improvement.

4. Snog Marry Avoid — rate the retro

In the final step, rate the retro section using the Snog Marry Avoid concept. Place a token on the rating scale to indicate your evaluation of the retrospective session. This feedback will help gauge the effectiveness of the retrospective process itself.

Additional resources

For additional inspiration and ideas, check out the original template from Katie Mills. Feel free to customize and adapt this template to suit your team's specific needs.

By following the step-by-step instructions provided, product managers, project managers, and engineers can facilitate meaningful discussions, identify areas for improvement, and foster a culture of continuous learning within their teams. Embrace the spirit of Valentine's Day as you reflect, learn, and improve together. Happy retrospecting!