Mad, sad, glad retrospective template

A retro about feelings: what frustrated you, what disappointed you and what made you glad. Good after a hard sprint, when the facts alone don’t tell the story.

Use this template

Opens a new board from it in Stetley Board. Sign in with your email first if you haven’t: no password, no card.

The board

Three columns: Mad (frustrating), Sad (disappointing) and Glad (a win). Ask people to write what happened as well as how it felt, so the group can act on it.

How to run it in 45 minutes

Stetley Board walks the room through these steps, with a timer for each and a guide for the facilitator. Change the times to suit you.

1. Set the scene 2 min

   Three columns for how the work felt: Mad (frustrating), Sad (disappointing) and Glad (a win).

2. Write alone 8 min

   One feeling per note, in the column where it belongs. Say what happened, not just how it felt.

3. Read and group 9 min

   Read every column. Stack notes about the same event, and notice where Mad and Glad meet.

4. Find the cause 7 min

   Take the biggest Mad or Sad. Why did it happen? Add a note for each reason you can find.

5. Pick 6 min

   Vote for the most original and the most doable — they're different. Select a note, then tap ✦ Original or ✓ Doable on the bar above it.

6. Turn into actions 10 min

   For the top Mad and Sad notes, write the very next action and who owns it: "When ___ happens, I'll ___."

7. Wrap up 3 min

   Nice work — the board is saved, and the summary is ready to download. What's one thing you're taking away?

Tips

• Say at the start that feelings are facts here: nobody has to justify one.
• Start with Glad. It’s easy to forget the wins.
• Run it anonymously if the team is new or the sprint was rough.

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