Retro Rundown |
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What is it
A structured, facilitated conversation that helps a team reflect on a completed activity or event by comparing what was expected with what happened and identifying concrete improvements.
Why use it
- Refine processes and strengthen what’s working.
- Improve performance against specific objectives.
- Discuss challenging topics constructively (e.g., “what isn’t working well”).
- Build shared understanding to better analyze issues and decisions.
When to use it
After any completed activity or event—large (final presentation, end-of-year deliverable) or small (sponsor check-in, weekly team sync). The sooner after the activity, the better.
Level
Beginner
Outcome
Evaluate
Group Size
4+ people
Suggested Time
45+ minutes
Retro Rundown Worksheet
How to do it
STEP 1
Event Data: Complete the basic information about the event, project, or activity.
STEP 2
Project Check-in: Each team member creates a sticky note with their name. Choose an icon that reflects how you’re feeling about the project and place it under your sticky. Invite everyone to share a brief explanation.
STEP 3
Pass out red (rose), green (bud), and blue (thorn) sticky notes to participants and have them write the strengths, opportunities, and challenges associated with the topic. If colored sticky notes are not available, use red, green, and blue markers with plain sticky notes, or use a whiteboard with colored markers.
Optional: Use the Rose, Bud, Thorn worksheet as your guide.
STEP 4
Encourage participants to generate multiple issues, insights, or ideas, but to capture only one per sticky note.
STEP 5
Group the colored sticky notes on a whiteboard or similar surface according to rose, bud, and thorn.
STEP 6
If desired, participants can group or cluster items further by priority or related themes and give each group a title.
Benefits
- Easiest tool to explain
- Participants catch on very quickly
- Very easy to come up with ideas
Challenges
- Need to translate the ideas into action items or else people won’t feel their perspectives have been taken into account
Combine With
Trimming to narrow down buds the team wants to take action on