Have you ever been so busy at work you’re surprised to realize another month has gone by? Or maybe even an entire quarter? Rarely do we have time to stop, reflect, and ask ourselves, “How did the last quarter go?”
Looking back on your (or your team’s) work can provide you with valuable lessons and insights. If you don't regularly review your work after reaching key milestones, start by following the retrospective framework.
A retrospective (or retro) is a structured exercise to help you reflect on your work, uncover better ways to operate, identify areas to improve, and decide what to focus on in the future. Retros were designed with teams in mind, but the process works for any number of people—even if it’s just you!
The basic framework
A retro can be used at the end of a project, a quarter, a year—really any time a moment of reflection feels necessary. We recommend scheduling a retro that coincides with your company’s business cycle (at the end of each quarter or trimester).
While you may never have participated in a retro before, the framework is simple. Keeping in mind every aspect of your job, (including your team, metrics, accomplishments, projects, meetings, day-to-day tasks, physical space, equipment, etc.) you answer the following questions:
- What worked?
- Where did you get stuck?
- What would you do differently?
How to set-up a retrospective
A retro typically takes around 60 to 75 minutes and can be done in-person or, if you have a remote team, using meeting software (like Zoom) and a shared document (like a Google doc).
If you are meeting in-person, you’ll need the following materials:
Post-it notes in 3 different colors (bring one pack per color for every two people joining)
- Sharpie markers (one per person)
- A timer
- A large, blank wall or whiteboard
Write “What worked?”, “Where did you get stuck?”, and “What would you do differently?” each on a different colored Post-it note and stick them on a blank wall or whiteboard with plenty of space in between (setting up the room beforehand helps the meeting run smoothly).
If you’re meeting remotely, set up your shared doc in the same way with three large section headers and plenty of space in between.
