The Ocean Expedition retrospective uses an ocean adventure theme to reflect on successes, challenges, and action items for improvement after a sprint.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective to engage your team in a fun and imaginative format, ideal for fostering connection and forward improvement.

How to facilitate

Kick off the retrospective by introducing the 'Ocean Expedition' theme. Share how you’ll be discovering calm seas (successes), rough waters (challenges), and new navigation routes (improvements).

Allow the team to reflect individually for a few minutes on the sprint and write their thoughts under the three columns.

Invite participants to share their inputs in '🏖️ Smooth Sailing' by discussing the observed successes and achievements during the sprint.

Move to '🌊 Rough Waters'; discuss challenges encountered and spend adequate time to fully understand common pain points.

Transition into '🗺️ New Navigation Routes' to brainstorm ideas and potential actions that can enhance the next sprint.

Group and prioritize the items in '🗺️ New Navigation Routes' that are most actionable and relevant. Define concrete steps if possible.

Conclude the session by summarizing key takeaways and improvements, thanking the team for their active participation, and acknowledging overall progress.

Pro Tips

Encourage team members to write concise inputs to keep the discussion focused and efficient.

Use oceangoing metaphors during the session to make the theme come alive and engage the team creatively.

Start with positives ('🏖️ Smooth Sailing') to set a constructive tone.

Before transitioning to '🗺️ New Navigation Routes,' invite open dialogue regarding the root causes of rough waters.

Ensure actionable steps are practical and assign a responsible person or group for follow-through.

FAQ

What if the team doesn't contribute equally?

Encourage everyone by specifically inviting quieter members to share their thoughts on at least one column.

How can I ensure action items are followed up on?

Assign a clear owner for each action item and review progress in future sprint meetings.

How do I prevent repeated challenges in the '🌊 Rough Waters' column each sprint?

Spend more time digging into root causes and focus on addressing these effectively with concrete actions.

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At a glance

Duration
45–60 min
Team Size
4-12 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🌊 Ocean Expedition

Dive into the depths of our sprint in this ocean-themed retrospective. We'll explore the calm seas of successes, the choppy waters of challenges, and chart a course to new horizons. Let's set sail for continuous improvement!

Template Columns

🏖️ Smooth Sailing

🌊 Rough Waters

🗺️ New Navigation Routes

About this template