🎃👻 Haunted Sprint Spectacle
Gather ’round the cauldron as we conjure our sprint’s triumphs, terrors, and spells for better magic ahead.
Template Columns
🕸️ Haunted Highlights
Celebrate the spooky successes and treats that boosted our sprint.
Base column: What Went Well🧟♂️ Ghoulish Glitches
Expose the curses and monsters that haunted our workflow.
Base column: What Went Wrong🔮 Potion of Progress
Brew new strategies to turn scares into strengths for the next sprint.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
A fun, Halloween‑themed sprint retrospective that reviews successes, challenges, and actionable improvements.
When to use this template
Use when the team wants a light‑hearted, themed reflection, especially during Q4 or any festive sprint.
How to facilitate
Open the session with a spooky sound effect or image and explain the three columns: Haunted Highlights, Ghoulish Glitches, and Potion of Progress.
Ask each participant to write one or two items for Haunted Highlights on virtual sticky notes, focusing on treats that boosted the sprint.
Gather the team to share and briefly discuss each highlight, grouping similar items together.
Next, have everyone add Ghoulish Glitches, describing curses or monsters that slowed the workflow.
Facilitate a quick discussion to surface root causes, encouraging the team to voice concerns without blame.
Finally, move to Potion of Progress where participants suggest spells—concrete actions or experiments—to turn the glitches into strengths for the next sprint.
Pro Tips
Use Halloween emojis or icons on the virtual board to keep the atmosphere playful and engaging.
Limit each item to a single sentence to keep discussion focused and timeboxed.
After the session, capture the top three Potion of Progress actions in the sprint backlog as clear, assignable tasks.
FAQ
What if the team is hesitant to share negative feedback in the Ghoulish Glitches column?
Reassure them that the focus is on processes, not people, and use a ‘no blame’ reminder before opening the column.
How many action items should we create in the Potion of Progress?
Aim for three to five high‑impact items that are realistic to implement in the next sprint.
Can this format work for a non‑technical team?
Absolutely; the themed structure works for any group that wants a creative way to reflect on recent work.
Want a custom template?
Create a retrospective template tailored to your team's needs with our AI-powered generator
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
5-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective