Lean Coffee is a structured, agenda-less meeting format that encourages open conversation and collaboration. Participants democratically build the agenda at the start by proposing topics they'd like to discuss. The group then votes on which topics to cover, allowing the most relevant discussions to emerge organically.
This format promotes active engagement, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving within teams. It's particularly useful for surfacing new ideas, addressing challenges, and fostering continuous improvement.
What is The Lean Coffee
To Discuss
What topics should we discuss?
Invite participants to propose topics they'd like to discuss by writing them on sticky notes or a shared board. Encourage a wide range of ideas related to the team's work, challenges, or areas for improvement.
In Progress
This is currently being discussed.
Once a topic is selected for discussion, move its sticky note or card to this column. Facilitate the conversation, ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute their thoughts and perspectives.
Discussed
These topics have been discussed.
After a topic has been thoroughly explored, move its sticky note or card to this column. Summarize any key takeaways, action items, or decisions made during the discussion.
Suggested Icebreaker Questions
- If you could learn any new skill instantly, what would it be?
- What's the most interesting or unusual hobby you've tried?
Ideas and Tips for Your Retrospective Meeting
- Encourage participants to propose a wide range of topics, both technical and non-technical.
- Use a timer to ensure discussions stay focused and move at a good pace.
- Rotate the facilitator role among team members to promote shared ownership.
- Follow up on action items or decisions made during the meeting.
- Consider using an online board or tool to capture and vote on topics remotely.
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How to Run Effective Meetings with TeamRetro
Start Your Session in a Click
Log into TeamRetro and choose your template. Customise questions and the workflow to create your perfect retro for your team.
Create Your Team Easily – No Separate Accounts Needed
Brainstorm Individually – Free From Bias
Smart Grouping for Faster Insights
Fair, Flexible, and Fast Voting
Engage, React, and Capture Key Insights
Walk your team through ideas one by one with Presentation Mode. Stay in sync, spark real-time discussions, and capture feedback with comments, live reactions, and polls—all in one place.
Turn Ideas Into Action
Propose next steps with team buy-in, get AI-powered action suggestions, and keep everything in one place. Committed actions sync to your personal dashboard and integrate with your workflow tools—keeping you on track.
Save, Share, and Stay on Track
Get quick AI-powered summaries, add facilitator notes, and store retrospectives in your library for easy access. Schedule your next session and track published actions to keep your team accountable at the next retro.
Turn Team Data into Actionable Insights
Uncover trends, common themes, and key engagement metrics at a glance. Track sentiment shifts, analyze conversations, and monitor completed actions to drive continuous improvement.