😠 Mad
What irritated you: which situations created tension?
Example cards
- Technical issues leading to delays.
- Lack of clear communication during tasks.
- Unrealistic deadlines causing stress.
Mad, Sad, Glad
A retrospective format to explore team emotions after a sprint or release.
45–60 min4–10 people3 columns
Adjust the columns and settings before you start.
Created by Alexandr Voloshyn
OfficialRecommended
Find the right fit
When to use it
Use this format when the team needs to discuss emotional responses to recent events and agree on improvements.
When to choose another format
Avoid this if the team is dealing with serious conflicts or performance issues that need separate attention.
Questions that guide the conversation
Use these prompts to collect specific observations. One idea per note keeps the discussion easy to follow.
😢 Sad
What disappointed you: what lowered motivation?
Example cards
- Unclear objectives during the sprint.
- Feeling overlooked during discussions.
- Missing team support when needed.
😊 Glad
What energized you: what deserves recognition?
Example cards
- Successful deployment of the new feature.
- Great collaboration during the last phase.
- Receiving positive feedback from stakeholders.
From reflection to a next step
45–60 minA suggested flow for this board. Reserve time at the end to agree on what happens next.
- 1
Introduction 5 min
Introduce the purpose of the session to the team and explain the columns.
- 2
Column Discussions 15 min
Allow time for participants to fill in the columns with their thoughts individually.
- 3
Group Sharing 20 min
Invite participants to share one point from each column and discuss collectively.
- 4
Voting and Prioritizing 5 min
Conduct a vote on which themes to discuss further based on the collected inputs.
- 5
Action Agreement 5 min
Agree on 1-2 actionable items to improve team collaboration moving forward.
Facilitator’s example
Make the next step small enough to happen
A specific observation
The team expressed a mix of frustrations and positive experiences around the last sprint.
A clear experiment
Assign action items to tackle the top identified issues in the next sprint, with a follow-up review in one month.
Make the conversation useful
- Acknowledge strong emotions and allow team members to express themselves without fear of judgment.
- Be mindful of team members' feelings and avoid pushing for overly frank discussions, ensuring everyone is comfortable.
- Reassure participants that no emotion is invalid and encourage open communication.
Before you start
What is the difference between Mad and Sad?
Mad refers to situations that caused frustration and tension, while Sad encompasses feelings of disappointment or decreased motivation.
Can we discuss specific people during the retrospective?
It’s best to focus on situations and processes rather than individuals to maintain a positive atmosphere.
How do we prioritize discussions?
Use the voting mechanism to determine which topics resonate most with team members.
What if someone feels uncomfortable sharing their feelings?
Encourage them to contribute anonymously, ensuring they still have a voice in the discussion.
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