🏝️ Island
Our goal: What will success look like in the next phase?
Example cards
- A well-defined project scope
- Increased team collaboration
- Achieving project milestones on time
Sailboat
Use the Sailboat retrospective format to navigate team objectives, strengths, obstacles, and risks for the next phase.
45–60 min4–12 people4 columns
Adjust the columns and settings before you start.
Created by Alexandr Voloshyn
OfficialRecommended
Find the right fit
When to use it
When the team has completed a phase of work and wants to align on the next steps, focusing on goals and potential risks.
When to choose another format
Avoid when the team requires detailed analysis of specific issues rather than a broad look at objectives and risks.
Questions that guide the conversation
Use these prompts to collect specific observations. One idea per note keeps the discussion easy to follow.
💨 Wind
What helps: Which practices and strengths propel us forward?
Example cards
- Daily stand-ups increasing transparency
- Pair programming improving code quality
- Weekly knowledge sharing sessions
⚓ Anchors
What hinders: What current obstacles slow down our progress?
Example cards
- Insufficient resources causing delays
- Communication gaps between teams
- Lack of clear priorities
🪨 Rocks
Future risks: What potential issues could hinder reaching our goals?
Example cards
- Upcoming team members leaving
- Market changes affecting project viability
- Technical debt causing long-term slowdowns
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
Align on Goals 10 min
Discuss and define what a successful next phase looks like for the team.
- 2
Identify Strengths 10 min
Explore practices and strengths driving the team forward, using the Wind column.
- 3
Discuss Obstacles 10 min
Identify current obstacles slowing down the work in the Anchors column.
- 4
Assess Risks 10 min
Evaluate potential risks that could hinder goal achievement in the Rocks column.
- 5
Vote on Key Issues 5 min
Have participants vote on the main obstacle and risk to address after the retrospective.
- 6
Plan Next Steps 10 min
Define concrete action items to tackle the identified obstacle and risk.
Facilitator’s example
Make the next step small enough to happen
A specific observation
Team is aligned on the next phase and understands the key obstacles and risks ahead.
A clear experiment
Identify the top obstacle and assign a team member to create a plan to address it by next month.
Make the conversation useful
- Encourage open discussion, making sure everyone feels comfortable sharing.
- Use the metaphor of a journey to keep the session light and engaging.
- Keep the focus on actionable insights and next steps.
Before you start
How can we ensure everyone's voice is heard?
Utilize round-robin sharing and encourage quieter team members to contribute.
What if we can't agree on a goal?
Facilitate a discussion until a consensus is reached or prioritize through voting.
Can we use this format for any type of project?
Yes, this format is adaptable to various projects, especially at transition points.
What should we do after identifying obstacles and risks?
Create action items and assign owners for each, ensuring follow-up.
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