Mad, Sad, Glad retrospective
Three columns for what made people mad, sad and glad. It brings out how the team is feeling, which process-focused formats often miss.
Start this retro
Sad
What disappointed you
When to use it
Use it after a tough sprint, when morale seems low, or when you sense there is something the team is not saying.
How to run it
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1
Start a boardGive it a title and share the link. Your team joins without signing in.
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2
WriteEveryone adds responses to each column. They are anonymous.
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3
VoteEach person votes for the responses that matter most to them.
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4
Discuss and agree actionsTalk through the top-voted responses and write down action items with an owner.
Tips
- Anonymous responses matter most here. People are more honest about frustration when their name is not attached.
- Do not rush to fix things. Acknowledge what people wrote before moving to solutions.
- Read out the Glad column too, so the session does not end on the low points.
Other retrospective formats
