Reddit Rewind Retrospective

Reddit Rewind retrospective format

Most Upvoted

What earned the most karma this time around?

This is the place for wins and highlights. Ask the team which decisions and contributions deserved a big upvote, and get people to say why each one worked so you can repeat it.

Most Downvoted

What got buried and left us frustrated?

This is for friction and the things that flopped. Keep it blame-free: you're looking for what dragged the team down so you can fix it. If people start piling on one item, move the conversation to what would fix it.

Trending Threads

Which ongoing topics still need more discussion?

Capture the open questions the team keeps coming back to without settling. Ask people to flag which threads deserve dedicated time, and decide whether to tackle each one now or in a later session.

Hot Takes

Got a bold or unpopular opinion to share?

This is the space for candid, even controversial opinions that rarely come up in a normal retro. Remind everyone that hot takes are invited and won't be held against anyone. Some of the best improvements start with someone finally saying the thing out loud.

When to use this retrospective

• At the end of the year, when your team wants a lighter way to look back on the highs and lows.
• When your usual retrospective format has gone stale and participation is dropping.
• For community, content or social media teams who already think in upvotes and threads.
• When you want the candid feedback that a standard format tends to miss.

Suggested icebreaker questions

• If your week was a Reddit post, what would the title be and how many upvotes would it get?
• What's one subreddit (real or made up) that perfectly describes our team right now?

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

Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting

• Lean into the Reddit theme from the start. It tells people that playful, honest contributions are welcome.
• Use voting the way Reddit uses upvotes, so the items the team cares about most rise to the top.
• Before Hot Takes, say out loud that bold opinions are safe to share and won't be held against anyone.
• Timebox each category so there's enough time left to turn the top items into actions.
• Allow anonymous entries so quieter team members contribute too.
• Group similar items before you discuss them, and commit to a small number of concrete actions.

Frequently asked questions