Three Wishes Retrospective

Three Wishes retrospective format

My First Wish

What is the one thing you most want to change?

This is the team's top aspiration — the change that would make the biggest difference. Encourage participants to start with the wish that matters most to them and to be specific about what they're hoping for. Frame it positively: rather than 'stop doing X', invite them to describe the better future they want to see. As wishes come in, look for recurring themes that point to shared needs across the team.

My Second Wish

What would make your day-to-day work easier?

The second wish often surfaces practical, everyday friction — the small things that add up. Encourage people to think about their tools, workflows, handoffs, and communication habits. These wishes are frequently quick to action and offer great early momentum, so keep an eye out for low-effort, high-impact ideas the team can adopt right away.

My Third Wish

What would help the team grow or feel better?

The third wish tends to be more aspirational or people-focused — about growth, culture, learning, and wellbeing. Give participants permission to dream bigger here. These wishes reveal what the team values beyond delivery, and they're powerful for shaping team culture and long-term direction. Acknowledge them even when they can't be actioned immediately.

Granting the Wishes

Which wishes can we turn into action right now?

This is where imagination becomes impact. After grouping and voting on the wishes, work through the top ones together and decide which are realistic to pursue. For each, capture a clear owner and next step. Be honest about which wishes are outside the team's control and park those that need escalation — but make sure no high-priority wish quietly disappears.

When to use this retrospective

• When your team feels stuck in negative cycles and you want a more positive, forward-looking way to reflect.
• At the end of a sprint or project when you want to surface aspirations and convert them into concrete improvements.
• During team health checks or culture conversations where you want people to share what they truly want.
• When onboarding a new team or restarting retrospectives, as the playful framing lowers the barrier to honest input.

Suggested icebreaker questions

• If you found a magic lamp today, what's the first non-work wish you'd make?
• What's one childhood wish that actually came true for you?

Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting

• Set the scene by reminding the team there are no bad wishes — encourage big, bold thinking before narrowing down to what's actionable.
• Use anonymous brainstorming so quieter team members feel safe sharing wishes they might otherwise hold back.
• Group similar wishes together to reveal shared themes and avoid discussing the same idea multiple times.
• Use dot voting to prioritise so the team focuses energy on the wishes that matter most.
• Be transparent about wishes that can't be granted right away — park them visibly rather than dismissing them.
• Always close by assigning owners and next steps so wishes become real change, not just a wishlist.

Frequently asked questions