Sailboat retrospective template

Look back as a boat: what pushed you on, what held you back, the rocks ahead and the island you’re sailing for. A favourite for sprint retros because it covers the past, the risks and the goal in one picture.

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

Four zones: the wind (what pushed us forward), anchors (what held us back), rocks (risks ahead) and the island (where we want to get to). Each person writes alone first, so the quiet voices are on the board before the discussion starts.

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

   We are a boat. Wind pushes us on, anchors hold us back, rocks are risks ahead, and the island is our goal.

2. Write alone 8 min

   One thought per note. Put each note in the zone where it belongs: wind, anchors, rocks or island.

3. Read and group 9 min

   Read every zone. Move notes that sit in the wrong place, and stack ones that say the same thing.

4. Look at the rocks 7 min

   Imagine the next sprint went badly. Which rock did we hit? Add a note for each reason.

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 anchors and rocks, 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

• Start reading at the wind: say what worked before fixing anything.
• If the island stays empty, ask for it first. A goal gives the anchors and rocks a direction.
• Keep it about the work, not people: ask “what is behind this?”, never “who did this?”.
• Read how to run a sailboat retro in 30 minutes for a shorter version.

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