Well-facilitated retrospectives are a key ingredient in high-functioning, continuously improving teams. Come learn and share best practices for planning and executing high quality retrospectives that establish rhythm, build trust, and create breakthroughs. We'll discuss the necessary elements of any great retrospective, practice designing an agenda, and troubleshoot common facilitation problems. Participants will leave with a "bag of tricks" for facilitating open, honest, and game-changing retrospectives for any kind of team or project.

1. retrospectives
2014 Digital PM Summit
@hannahkane

2. retrospectiv
es
debriefs
post-mortems
after-action
reviews

3. reflective activity
that allows teams to
inspect and adapt
their processes
for the future

8. culture of
experimentation
reliable
rhythm
targeted / purposeful
activities
space for
creation
occasional
breakthroughs

9. Culture of Experimentation

10. “It’s just a week.”

11. Culture of Solutions Culture of Experimentation
“I know” “I wonder”
narratives evidence
complaints hypotheses
process changes process experiments
documentation information radiators

12. AB tests:
not just for products

14. fail fast

15. Reliable Rhythm

16. “Can we just skip the
retro?”

17. No.

19. reduces gossip and
back-channeling

20. unexceptional = less scary

21. a parking lot to clear the
mind

22. Don’t wait until it’s too late

24. Targeted and Purposeful

25. “I’m on board”
vs.
“I’m bored”

26. match the situation
• is it a team or a team-shaped
object?
• are targets being met?
• is there conflict in the group?
• where are you in the project?

27. establish a purpose

28. conflict resolution

29. problem solving

30. change management

31. decision making

32. team building

33. Space for Creation

34. “Let the inmates
run the asylum.”

35. you
provide
the shape,
but they fill
the glass

36. divergen
t
emerge
nt
converge
nt
* Astrid Claesson
discussion
debate
brainstorming
brainswarming
games
puzzles
visioning
etc.

37. unravel complexity

38. Create Breakthroughs

39. “This isn’t
supposed to be
therapy.”

40. or is it?

41. breakthrough flavors
interpersonal intrapersonal process product

42. root cause analysis
5 whys

43. It’s not about
how well you
followed a
process.
It’s about how
well the
process is
serving the
goals.

44. get
ready for
the
awkward

45. thank you.
for realsies.

46. Candy designed by Bohdan Burmich from the
thenounproject.com
Books designed by gema.pc from the
thenounproject.com
Microscope designed by Stuart McCoy from
the thenounproject.com
Metronome designed by Simon Child from the
thenounproject.com
Target designed by misirlou from the
thenounproject.com
Origami designed by Simon Child from the
thenounproject.com
Tissues designed by Blaise Sewell from the
thenounproject.com
Easel designed by Jeanette Clement from the
thenounproject.com