Set a meeting time and invite the team to a group retrospective. Start by collecting insights from team members about the previous sprint. Use sticky notes to write down the positives (wind in the sails) and negatives (anchors) that influenced the sprint. This step sets the sailboat's heading, providing a clear view of the team’s journey.

Gather the team to review the collected data. Using stickies, spend about 15-20 minutes allowing each person to add stickies to each section. Discuss the wind that propelled the sailboat forward and the anchors that held it back. Encourage open dialogue to ensure everyone shares their perspective, fostering a collaborative environment. Your reflection should address the following questions:

• Destination: What was your goal? What were you working towards?

• Wind: What moved you forward? What helped?

• Shark: What were the risks? What should you be cautious of?

• Anchor: What held you back? What caused delays?

Identify critical points from the discussion and spend the remaining time addressing all stickies. Look for patterns in the wind and anchors to understand what consistently helps or hinders progress. This analysis helps the team pinpoint areas needing attention and those to celebrate.

Create action items

Based on the analysis, create actionable items to address the anchors and reinforce the wind. Assign these tasks to team members to ensure accountability. This streamlines decision-making and fosters continuous improvement.

Review and adjust

Review the action items in the next sprint retrospective meeting. Check what worked and what didn’t, and adjust accordingly. This ongoing review keeps the team on track for smooth sailing and continuous improvement.