The Starfish retrospective is a technique developed by Patrick Kua to help teams reflect on varying degrees of actions and activities rather than simply the traditional what went well or what did not go well. The five key areas explored are:
1. Start: New practices or initiatives to begin. 2. More of: Existing strengths to amplify. 3. Continue: Positive aspects to maintain. 4. Less of: Areas that need scaling back. 5. Stop: Unproductive or detrimental activities to discontinue.
By categorizing feedback into these actionable sections, teams can easily pinpoint growth opportunities and develop a clear plan for the next iteration. The Starfish retrospective promotes open discussion, continuous improvement, and team alignment.
What is The Starfish Retrospective
Start
What new practices or initiatives should we start?
Encourage the team to think creatively about untapped opportunities.
More of
What existing strengths should we do more of?
Highlight the team's positive attributes and successful approaches.
Continue
What positive aspects should we continue?
Reinforce the practices that are working well for the team.
Less of
What areas need to be scaled back or reduced?
Identify areas of overemphasis or inefficient use of resources.
Stop
What unproductive practices should we stop?
Encourage the team to let go of habits or processes that are no longer serving them.
Suggested Icebreaker Questions
- If our team was a type of fish, what kind would we be and why?
- What's one thing you've learned recently that has made you more effective at work?
Ideas and Tips for Your Retrospective Meeting
- Encourage open and honest feedback by creating a safe, judgment-free environment.
- Assign a dedicated facilitator to guide the discussion and ensure all voices are heard.
- Focus on actionable items rather than dwelling on past mistakes or assigning blame.
- Prioritize the most impactful items and create a clear action plan for addressing them.
- Follow up on action items in subsequent meetings to ensure accountability and progress.
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