The Working Not Working retrospective is a straightforward yet powerful approach to team reflection that focuses on identifying what's effective and what needs improvement in your processes, projects, or team dynamics. This binary format helps teams quickly distinguish between successful practices and areas requiring attention.
Originally popularized in agile environments, this retrospective format stands out for its simplicity and clarity. By creating a clear distinction between working and non-working elements, teams can easily prioritize their improvement efforts and maintain what's already successful.
This format is particularly effective for teams who want to cut through complexity and focus on practical outcomes. It encourages honest feedback while maintaining a solution-oriented mindset, helping teams identify both positive patterns to replicate and challenges to address.
What is The Working, Not Working Retrospective
What is working?
What is going to plan?
Guide the team to identify successful practices, processes, and behaviors that should be continued or expanded. Encourage specific examples rather than general statements, and help the team recognize patterns of success.
What is not working?
What is not going to plan?
Help the team identify challenges and obstacles without falling into blame or negativity. Focus on systems and processes rather than individuals, and encourage constructive criticism that can lead to solutions.
Suggested Icebreaker Questions
- What's one thing that made your work easier this week?
- If you could instantly fix one thing about our current process, what would it be?
Ideas and Tips for Your Retrospective Meeting
- Keep the focus on actionable items rather than vague complaints or praise
- Encourage balanced participation by asking quieter team members to share their perspectives
- Use dot voting to prioritize which non-working items to address first
- Create specific action items for addressing 'not working' items before concluding
- Document working practices so they can be replicated and standardized
- Schedule follow-ups to review progress on addressing non-working items
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How to Run Effective Meetings with TeamRetro
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Log into TeamRetro and choose your template. Customise questions and the workflow to create your perfect retro for your team.
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