4Ls: Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For

How to Run This Retrospective

1. Set Up the Board: Create four columns: 'Liked', 'Learned', 'Lacked', and 'Longed For'. This structure encourages a comprehensive review of the recent work period, covering both facts and feelings.
2. Brainstorming - Liked: Ask the team to add cards for what they enjoyed about the last sprint. This could be anything from a specific process that worked well to a positive team interaction.
3. Brainstorming - Learned: In the 'Learned' column, encourage team members to share new insights or skills they've acquired. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
4. Brainstorming - Lacked: This column is for identifying necessary elements that were missing. Team members can add cards for things like inadequate resources, missing information, or insufficient time.
5. Brainstorming - Longed For: The 'Longed For' column captures the team's aspirations. Encourage them to add cards for what they wish they had, such as better tools, more pair programming, or clearer goals.
6. Group and Discuss: Facilitate a discussion by going through each column. Drag and drop cards to group similar items, helping the team to spot trends and areas for focus.
7. Develop an Action Plan: The 'Lacked' and 'Longed For' columns are a great source for actionable ideas. Guide the team to create specific, achievable action items. Use a separate 'Action Items' column to keep track of these commitments.

When to Use This Format

• Great for in-depth, structured retrospectives that cover a wide range of topics.
• Helps teams to not only identify problems but also to recognize their learnings and aspirations.

Facilitator's Guide

• Pay special attention to the 'Learned' column. Celebrating learning can be highly motivating and reinforces a growth mindset within the team.
• The 'Longed For' column can reveal deep insights into team motivation and long-term desires. Listen carefully to these points, as they can inform strategic improvements.