Team retrospective template

You know what they say: Mistakes are lessons. Once a week, complete a retrospective — also known as a debrief, recap, or post-mortem meeting — with your team to reflect on what went well, what could be better, and what you can do to make positive changes to your process. Don’t miss this crucial step without Mural’s team retrospective template.

Start with a check-in. Each person picks an emoji that represents how they're feeling today. Then give the team a few minutes to work individually writing down their reflections on sticky notes. Take turns sharing your notes while clustering similar answers, thinking in terms of what went well, what didn’t go well, possible actions to be taken, and appreciation that can be given.

Group members can add reactions on the content provided and discuss reasons for this. As the session comes to a close, complete a check-out sharing how everyone feels after the session.

What is a team retrospective?

A team retrospective is a reflective meeting held after a project or sprint to evaluate what went well, what didn’t, and how the team can improve moving forward. It’s a chance for team members to share their thoughts in a safe, constructive environment.

Think of it like a team huddle after a big game, where everyone gathers to celebrate victories and learn from challenges. It’s a time to reflect, share, and grow together.

What are the benefits of team retrospectives?

Many believe that less than 20% of their meetings are productive. Luckily, team retros are anything but. A team retrospective is a meeting that is held at the end of a project or sprint in order to discuss what went well and what could be improved. But what are the specific benefits of running retrospectives to reflect on progress?

• Improved communication‍: Agile retrospectives templates help to improve communication within the team, as they provide an opportunity for team members to give and receive feedback in a safe and constructive environment.
• Better problem solving: Retrospectives also help to improve problem-solving skills, as they allow teams to identify and brainstorm solutions to problems that they encountered during the project or sprint.
• Builds trust: Additionally, retrospectives can help build trust within the team, as team members can share their thoughts and feelings about the project or sprint without fear of judgment from others.
• Higher impact: Finally, retrospectives can help to improve the overall quality of the project or sprint, as they allow teams to identify and implement changes that will make the next project or sprint more successful.

How to use Mural’s team retrospective template

Step 1. Prepare ahead of time

Before the meeting, share the template with the team. Encourage everyone to think about their contributions and fill in their thoughts in advance, if possible.

Step 2. Set the stage

At the beginning of the meeting, create a positive atmosphere. Remind the team that the goal is constructive feedback and continuous improvement.

Step 3. Review the template together

Go through each section of the template as a group. Allow team members to share their thoughts and experiences related to each prompt. Don’t forget to encourage productive conversation!

Step 4. Prioritize action items

After gathering insights, figure out which are the most important issues to address. Choose a few actionable items to focus on for the next period, ensuring everyone is aligned on priorities.

Step 5. Assign responsibilities

Decide who will take ownership of each action item. This accountability helps ensure that improvements are implemented.

Tips for using a retrospective meeting template

Mural’s team retrospective template does a lot of the heavy lifting. Should you want to give your success rate an extra boost, here are additional tips. 

• Use a timer: Allocate specific time slots for each section of the sprint retrospective template. This keeps the meeting focused and ensures that all topics are covered without dragging on.
• Encourage everyone to speak: Retros are all about creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing. Use prompts or round-robin discussions to ensure all voices are heard.
• Celebrate wins: Even though your retro will likely have hard conversations, don’t forget to include a section for celebrating successes! Acknowledging achievements boosts morale and reinforces positive behavior.