Online vs In-Person Retrospectives
Online and in-person retrospectives share the same agile goals but differ in logistics. Compare the pros, the cons, and what stays the same for both.
Online and in-person retrospectives chase the same agile goals — they differ mainly in logistics. In-person retros need a room, boards, and sticky notes; online retros need a video call and a collaborative tool, but unlock anonymity, independent voting, and easy capture of ideas.
Even if a remote or online retro means that not everyone is physically in the same room, the goals and principles of Agile do not change. Agile is about the process.
An in-person retrospective means you have to book a room, set it up, draw things on boards, check the logistics and collate sticky notes afterward. For remote retros, the focus is more on having the right video conferencing tool (Zoom, MS Teams, Skype) and having an online retrospective tool to collaborate effectively. It’s not just a stream of chats, unorganized sticky notes, or someone trying to scribe what is said and not being able to join in themselves.
According to the 3,500-respondent State of Remote Work report, working from home is on the rise, with flexibility, no commute, and family time being some key benefits. On the other hand, collaboration, communication, and loneliness represent 40% of the biggest challenges. Retrospectives are therefore both an opportunity and a challenge — a time when people can come together and share and learn from each other in a supportive environment. The pros and cons of remote online retrospectives are:
What are the pros of online retrospectives?
- Easier for people to meet
- Ability to have asynchronous retrospectives
- Real-time feedback
- No manual collation
- Equal opportunity for people to contribute
- Independent brainstorming and voting
- Anonymous options
- More time for discussion and team bonding
- No more production blocks or anchoring (1 person talking about their idea)
- No room set up
What are the cons of online retrospectives?
- A loss of all body language cues
- A potential loss in a general sense of togetherness
- Reliance on technology for video conferencing and collaboration tools
- Facilitating a remote retrospective is more challenging
It’s important with online retrospectives to find ways to build rapport and ensure that every voice in the room is “heard”. You may not have to prep a room, but you still need to prep for the session.
The need to continue to build engagement, connection, participation, and buy-in to decisions applies to both types of retrospectives, albeit with slightly different strategies. This becomes even more important when your team is distributed — see why remote retrospectives are key to the agile process.
While online meetings don’t have everyone standing side by side, this doesn’t mean they have to be impersonal or cold. They can lend themselves to understanding a bit more about each person on the team, finding out more about them, and having them share a little of their lives with everyone. Having activities for online meetings that connect, energize, challenge, or engage the team — including your retrospective — ensures there is an opportunity to build these relationships.
Frequently asked questions
Are online retrospectives as effective as in-person ones?
Yes — a well-run online retrospective can be as effective as an in-person one, and sometimes more so. The goals are identical: reflect on the sprint and agree improvements. Online tools add real advantages such as anonymous input, automatic capture of ideas, and easy participation for remote or hybrid teams. What changes is the logistics, not the value.
What is the difference between an online and an in-person retrospective?
The difference is logistics, not purpose. In-person retrospectives rely on a shared physical space, whiteboards, and sticky notes; online retrospectives use a collaborative tool that everyone joins remotely. Online formats make it easier to include distributed teammates, contribute anonymously, and capture and share the results automatically.
How do you make a remote retrospective engaging?
Give people time to connect at the start, use a tool that lets everyone contribute at once (ideally anonymously), keep cameras on where you can, and vary the template so the meeting does not feel repetitive. The aim is equal participation — every voice heard — which a good online retrospective tool is designed to support.