Anchors & Engines Retrospective

See what's driving your team forward and holding it back

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Anchors

What factors are slowing us down or holding us back?

Lack of clear requirements or priorities is causing delays and rework.
We're spending too much time in meetings, leaving little room for focused work.
Outdated tools and processes are hindering our efficiency and productivity.
Engines

What factors are driving us forward and enabling our success?

Our daily standups help us stay aligned and remove blockers quickly.
The cross-functional nature of our team allows us to tackle complex problems effectively.
Our commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing is helping us grow and improve.

What is the Anchors & Engines retrospective?

The Anchors & Engines retrospective asks two questions: what's slowing your team down, and what's moving it forward? Anchors are the drag, such as unclear priorities, too many meetings or tools that get in the way. Engines are the practices and conditions that give you speed. Seeing both on one board helps you decide what to cut loose and what to protect. The format uses a speedboat metaphor. Picture the team heading for an island, with the boat standing for the outcome or deliverable you're working toward. Some facilitators add urgency by imagining people on the island waiting for food and medical supplies, so arriving on time matters. Everyone adds notes to both columns, then the team groups them, votes and talks through the ones with the most impact. You leave with a few actions: an anchor or two to remove and an engine or two to keep running. Use it when you're facing roadblocks or inefficiencies, or when things are going well and you want to understand why so you can keep the momentum.

Anchors & Engines retrospective format

Anchors

What factors are slowing us down or holding us back?

Anchors are anything slowing the team down or holding it back. Ask people to name them plainly and without judgment, and to describe the effect on the work so you can size each one.

Engines

What factors are driving us forward and enabling our success?

Engines are the practices, people and conditions moving the team forward. Ask what helped this sprint and why it worked, so you know what to keep doing. Celebrate the wins, but push for the cause behind each one.

When to use this retrospective

  • When bottlenecks or roadblocks are slowing your team and you need to find the biggest ones.
  • When things are going well and you want to name the practices behind it so they don't slip.
  • When you want to hear from everyone on the team about what's helping and what's hurting.
  • After a sprint with mixed results, when both the drag and the drive deserve a look.

Suggested icebreaker questions

  • If our team were a vehicle, what kind would it be and why?
  • Share a recent 'anchor' or 'engine' moment you experienced outside of work.

Want a warm-up your team plays, not just answers out loud? Browse free icebreakers →

Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting

  • Give everyone a few minutes to add notes on their own before discussion starts, so every view reaches the board.
  • Talk about anchors as conditions and processes, not people, so nobody holds back.
  • Vote on anchors and engines by impact and by how easily the team can act on them.
  • Write an action for the top anchor and the top engine, each with an owner and a date.
  • Check those actions at your next retrospective to see whether the anchor has gone.
  • If an anchor sits outside the team, invite the stakeholder or expert who can actually move it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Anchors & Engines retrospective?
It's a two-column retrospective built on a boat metaphor. Anchors are what's slowing your team down, engines are what's driving it forward, and the team agrees on actions for both.
How do you run an Anchors & Engines retrospective?
Explain the speedboat picture, then give everyone a few minutes to add notes privately under Anchors and Engines. Group similar notes, vote, and turn the top anchor and top engine into actions with owners.
When should I use the Anchors & Engines retrospective?
Use it when momentum has stalled, after a sprint with mixed results, or whenever you want blockers and wins in a single session.
How long does it take?
With only two columns, most teams finish in 45 to 60 minutes. Spend most of that time on the top-voted anchors.
How is Anchors & Engines different from the sailboat retrospective?
Both use a boat metaphor. The sailboat retrospective adds rocks for risks ahead, the sun and a goal, while Anchors & Engines keeps to two columns: what slows you down and what drives you forward.

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