What Went Well?

A classic and straightforward retrospective format focusing on positive and negative aspects of a sprint, and defining clear action items.

How to Run This Retrospective

Set Up the Board: Prepare for the session by creating three columns: 'What Went Well?', 'What Could Be Improved?', and 'Action Items'.
Brainstorming - What Went Well?: Encourage the team to start by adding cards for their successes and achievements from the last sprint. This sets a positive tone for the meeting.
Brainstorming - What Could Be Improved?: Next, have the team add cards for things that were challenging or inefficient. Frame this as a constructive exercise focused on processes, not people.
Group and Discuss: Guide the team in a discussion of the items in the first two columns. Use drag-and-drop to group similar cards, which will help uncover underlying themes and patterns.
Define Action Items: Based on the discussion, help the team collaboratively define clear and actionable steps for improvement. Each action item should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Assigning an owner to each card in the 'Action Items' column is a great way to ensure accountability.

Perfect for teams new to retrospectives because of its simplicity.
An excellent all-purpose format for regular sprints when no major issues need to be addressed.

Always start with the 'What Went Well?' column. Beginning on a positive note can make team members more open to discussing challenges.
When discussing what could be improved, ensure the conversation remains constructive. Steer the team away from blame and toward process-oriented solutions.
The success of this format often depends on the quality of the action items. Make sure every item in the 'Action Items' column is clear and has a designated owner to ensure follow-through.