The Pirates Retrospective Template
What is the Pirates retrospective technique?
Agile retrospectives are great moments to discuss team issues and challenges. When creating or choosing a new retrospective activity, you should focus on the context of the team and what you want to achieve.
If simple retrospective templates like Start Stop Continue, Keep Drop Start, or Glad Sad Mad stand out for their intuitive aspect, these activities should not be overused. Otherwise, beware of the inevitable boredom that comes with it! Besides, if you don't frequently vary your retrospective formats, your meetings will lose efficiency. Then, at the end of the road, your retrospectives might no longer serve your team as they should.
If you wish to have a productive meeting that emphasizes team spirit - while maintaining a cheerful environment - the Pirates Retrospective is for you! 🏴☠️
Based on Paul Flewelling's Treasure Island, the Pirates retrospective first consists in finding the most precious thing for the team. Then, the team's treasure materializes this cherished element.
Then the team members list everything that worries them in their road to keeping the treasure safe. Secondly, people point out and examine both the good and bad ways of working for the team. Finally, as in any other retrospective meeting, team members build an action plan to help the team improve quickly.
Freebooters, privateers, and buccaneers! Embark on the retrospective activity that will - hopefully - lead your team to glory and riches!
The 4 elements of the Pirates retrospective
Why & when should you use the Pirates retrospective?
The Pirates model will fit perfectly into your team retrospectives routine (whether you have Sprint or Iteration retrospectives).
The primary strength of this activity is to start from what matters most to the team members - it is what is set by the treasure. Thus, while most retrospective activities make it possible to deal with almost all subjects transversally, preserving the treasure at all costs will drive the team's journey here.
The Pirates retro is a fun, original, and compelling Futurespective activity. We recommend using the Pirates technique when your team has just set new goals.
As a result, this retrospective is the perfect opportunity to project yourself into the future while keeping in mind the team's goal. Moreover, using collective intelligence to explore the pitfalls that could stand in the team's way will help shape a stronger team spirit.
