What are the best facilitation models for a retrospective meeting?

1 The 5-Step Model

One of the most popular and simple facilitation models for a retrospective meeting is the 5-step model, which consists of the following phases: set the stage, gather data, generate insights, decide what to do, and close the retrospective. This model helps you create a safe and productive space for your team to share their feedback, analyze their performance, and plan their actions. You can use different techniques and tools for each phase, such as icebreakers, timelines, dot voting, SMART goals, and appreciation cards.

2 The Starfish Model

Another useful facilitation model for a retrospective meeting is the starfish model, which helps you explore five aspects of your team's work: keep doing, less of, more of, stop doing, and start doing. This model helps you identify what is working well, what needs to be adjusted, and what needs to be introduced or eliminated. You can use a starfish-shaped diagram or a board to visualize these aspects and ask your team to write down their ideas on sticky notes. Then, you can group and prioritize them and decide on the next steps.

3 The Sailboat Model

A more creative and fun facilitation model for a retrospective meeting is the sailboat model, which uses a metaphor of a sailboat to represent your team's journey. This model helps you assess four elements of your team's work: the wind, the anchor, the rocks, and the island. The wind represents the positive forces that push your team forward, the anchor represents the negative forces that hold your team back, the rocks represent the risks and threats that your team faces, and the island represents the vision and goals that your team strives for. You can use a sailboat-shaped diagram or a board to illustrate these elements and ask your team to write down their ideas on sticky notes. Then, you can discuss and plan how to maximize the wind, minimize the anchor, avoid the rocks, and reach the island.

5 The 6 Thinking Hats Model

A more analytical and structured facilitation model for a retrospective meeting is the 6 thinking hats model, which helps you examine your team's work from different perspectives. This model helps you use six different hats, each representing a different mode of thinking: white for facts and data, red for emotions and feelings, black for risks and challenges, yellow for benefits and opportunities, green for creativity and innovation, and blue for process and overview. You can use different colored hats or cards to indicate these modes and ask your team to switch between them as you discuss your team's work. Then, you can synthesize and summarize the key points and actions.