Facilitation Techniques for the Sprint Retrospective
About the Sprint Retrospective
Event Purpose:
The Scrum Team inspects how the last Sprint went; individuals, interactions, process, tools and Definition of Done. Output: the Scrum Team adapts by identifying the most helpful changes to improve its effectiveness.
Facilitator Focus:
Enable a safe atmosphere in which everyone in the team feels open to participate. Listen actively to what is said and what is not said. Open the floor to different perspectives. Build consensus and clearly define next steps.
How to Facilitate the Sprint Retrospective
In this Introduction to Facilitating the Sprint Retrospective video, you'll learn step-by-step how to guide your team through a Sprint Retrospective with techniques such as the Prime Directive, the Perfection Game, Dot Voting and Affinity Mapping so that your team can leave the Sprint Retrospective with ideas on how to improve.
Facilitation Techniques for Common Problems
Want to create a safe environment and get the team on the same page?
- Try creating a team agreement collaboratively
- Increase team collaboration by building empathy with each other - try creating personal maps
Want to avoid groupthink? And/ or want to come up with many different ideas?
- Try diverging & converging techniques such as silent brainstorming, 1-2-4-al, crazy 8s, grouping (affinity mapping)
- Try participative techniques such as White Elephant
Ready to explore different perspectives to solve problems with the team?
Spice up your Sprint Retrospectives with regularly changing formats
Not sure what improvement actions to work on next? Craving consensus?
- Try Five Ways to Build Consensus
Resources: