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Presentation template · Corporate

Sailboat retrospective template for sprints

This sailboat retrospective template turns a sprint retrospective into a short voyage your team plans together. Everyone answers on their phone: a weather check, a pin on the sea chart for where the boat is, then the wind that pushed you forward, the anchors that held you back, the rocks ahead and the island you are sailing for. Changes are posted and upvoted, so the team leaves with one action and an owner. Answers are anonymous by default and every slide has notes on what to say and how long to spend.

  • 15 slides
  • About 40 min
  • 9 slides the room answers
  • Presenter notes on every slide
Use this template, freeSee every slide
Sailboat retrospective illustration

Every slide, in order

What the room sees on screen. Times are a plan for a group of 20 to 40; the notes under each slide in the app say what to say and how to use the answers.

  1. A sailboat on layered teal waves near a small palm island, with clouds, a sun and wind lines

    Sailboat retrospective

    [Team name], [Sprint name]. Phones out, crew.

    01Title1 min

  2. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    How the boat works

    • Wind: what pushed us forward
    • Anchors: what held us back
    • Rocks: risks ahead
    • Island: where we want to go
    A sea chart for a sailboat retrospective: wind behind the boat, an anchor below it, rocks ahead and an island, each labelled

    02Text + image2 min

  3. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines
    A row of weather symbols from sunny to stormy

    Weather check: how was this sprint for you?

    • Sunny
    • Mostly sunny
    • Cloudy
    • Rainy
    • Stormy

    03Poll2 min

  4. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Where is our boat right now? Drop a pin

    A sea chart for a sailboat retrospective: wind behind the boat, an anchor below it, rocks ahead and an island, each labelled

    04Pin on image3 min

  5. A small sailboat on teal waves under a cloud and wind lines on a dark green background

    Looking back

    What filled our sails, and what dragged behind us.

    05Text + image1 min

  6. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Wind: what pushed us forward this sprint?

    06Open text5 min

  7. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Anchors: what slowed us down?

    07Open text5 min

  8. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Rocks: what risks do you see ahead?

    08Open text4 min

  9. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Island: one word for where we want to be next sprint

    Words appear here as people send them

    09Word cloud3 min

  10. A small sailboat on teal waves under a cloud and wind lines on a dark green background

    Change course

    Post one change for next sprint, then upvote the ones you would back.

    10Text + image1 min

  11. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    One change for next sprint

    Questions from the room appear here, with upvotes

    11Q&A6 min

  12. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Last retro's actions

    • We did what we agreed last time
    • It made a difference

    Not at allCompletely

    12Rating scale2 min

  13. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Kudos: thank a teammate for something this sprint

    13Open text3 min

  14. A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines

    Our next sprint

    • Keep: [top wind]
    • Change: [top change]
    • Watch: [top rock]
    • Owner: [name], check-in at [date]
    A compass with a coral needle

    14Text + image2 min

  15. A sailboat on layered teal waves near a small palm island, with clouds, a sun and wind lines

    Thanks, crew

    [Name] shares progress on the change at [stand-up or date].

    15Title1 min

How to run it

  1. Use the template and fill in the parts in [brackets]: team name, sprint name and date.
  2. Press Present. The team joins with the PIN or QR code; no names are asked, so answers stay anonymous.
  3. Follow the notes under each slide. Flip back to the wind and anchors when you vote on changes.
  4. Write the action, owner and date on the recap slide before you show it, and check it at the next retrospective.

Run of show

StartsSlideMinutes
0:00TitleSailboat retrospective1
1:00Text + imageHow the boat works2
3:00PollWeather check: how was this sprint for you?2
5:00Pin on imageWhere is our boat right now? Drop a pin3
8:00Text + imageLooking back1
9:00Open textWind: what pushed us forward this sprint?5
14:00Open textAnchors: what slowed us down?5
19:00Open textRocks: what risks do you see ahead?4
23:00Word cloudIsland: one word for where we want to be next sprint3
26:00Text + imageChange course1
27:00Q&AOne change for next sprint6
33:00Rating scaleLast retro's actions2
35:00Open textKudos: thank a teammate for something this sprint3
38:00Text + imageOur next sprint2
40:00TitleThanks, crew1

Questions about this template

What is a sailboat retrospective?

A retrospective format where the team is a boat: wind is what pushed you forward, anchors are what held you back, rocks are risks ahead and the island is your goal. It works for any sprint or project.

Can I use this as a general sprint retrospective template?

Yes. The questions map to the usual what went well, what did not and what to change, so it works as a sprint retrospective template for any team.

Are the answers anonymous?

Yes. The template does not ask for names, so people can be honest about what slowed the team. Turn on Ask for names in Settings if your team prefers to sign answers.

Is the retrospective template free?

Yes. Using the template is free, and so is running it: the Free plan includes 15 activities and up to 100 people per session. Paid plans for bigger rooms start at $7 a month.

Can a remote team use it?

Yes. Share your screen in the video call and everyone joins with the same PIN. The pin slide works the same on a phone or a laptop.

Photos and sources

  • A sailboat on layered teal waves near a small palm island, with clouds, a sun and wind lines: RiLiFi, CC0
  • A small sailboat on teal waves under a cloud and wind lines on a dark green background: RiLiFi, CC0
  • A dark green background with a band of waves along the bottom and faint wind lines: RiLiFi, CC0
  • A sea chart for a sailboat retrospective: wind behind the boat, an anchor below it, rocks ahead and an island, each labelled: RiLiFi, CC0
  • A row of weather symbols from sunny to stormy: RiLiFi, CC0
  • A compass with a coral needle: RiLiFi, CC0

More for this event

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Present it live with your group.

People join from their phones with a PIN. No app to install, free for up to 100 people per session.

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