🪖⚔️ Frontline Ops
Soldiers of Scrum, rally! Deploy new tactics (Start), cease fire on old habits (Stop), and hold the line on winning strategies (Continue) to secure mission success.
Template Columns
🚀🔧 Launch New Maneuvers
Identify fresh tactics and initiatives to kick‑off our next sprint.
Base column: Start🛑⚔️ Cease Fire
Mark practices that hinder progress and should be halted.
Base column: Stop✅🏅 Hold the Line
Maintain effective strategies that keep us advancing toward victory.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A high‑energy sprint retrospective where the team decides what to start, stop, and continue, using a military‑themed framework to drive actionable change.
When to use this template
Use when the team needs clear, decisive actions and a motivating theme to break old habits and reinforce winning practices.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by reminding the squad of the mission goal and explain the Start‑Stop‑Continue columns with their military labels.
Give each participant 3‑5 sticky notes and ask them to write individual ideas for new maneuvers (Start), cease‑fire actions (Stop), and hold‑the‑line tactics (Continue).
Collect the notes, group similar ideas on the virtual board under the appropriate column, and briefly discuss each cluster to ensure shared understanding.
Prioritize the items in each column by voting with dots or emoji reactions, focusing on the top two to three actions per column.
Translate the top votes into concrete sprint commitments, assign owners, and record them in the action tracker before closing the retro.
Pro Tips
Limit each participant to a maximum of three items per column to keep the board focused and avoid analysis paralysis.
Use a timer for each discussion segment to maintain momentum and prevent any single topic from dominating the session.
Encourage the team to phrase items as specific, testable actions (e.g., “Start daily design sync”) rather than vague statements.
FAQ
What if the team runs out of ideas for a column?
Prompt with examples or ask each person to share at least one item; you can also revisit previous retrospectives for missed opportunities.
How do we handle disagreements on a voted item?
Facilitate a short, time‑boxed debate to surface concerns, then either adjust the action or defer it to a later sprint if consensus isn’t reached.
Can we use this format for non‑technical teams?
Yes, the Start‑Stop‑Continue structure works across functions; just replace the military terminology with language that resonates with your group.
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
5-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective