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Starfish Retrospective template: free online board

The Starfish retrospective has five arms: keep doing, less of, more of, stop doing and start doing. The two extra columns let people say "turn this down" instead of only "stop", which gives a more honest picture of a mature team.

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When to use it

• A team whose Start-Stop-Continue has become too blunt
• When most things work and need tuning, not replacing
• Teams with 45 to 60 minutes to spare

What goes in each column

Keep doing

What is working and should stay as it is?

Less of

What is useful but getting too much time?

More of

What helps and deserves more time?

Stop doing

What has no value and should end?

Start doing

What new thing should we try?

How to run it

1. Set the scene. Remind everyone of the goal and agree that this is about the work, not about blame.
2. Write in silence. Everyone adds cards on their own, so quieter people are heard.
3. Group and vote. Merge similar cards, then vote on what matters most.
4. Discuss. Start with the most-voted cards and work down.
5. Agree on actions. Finish with a small number of actions, each with an owner and a date.

Watch out for

Five columns spread the votes thin. Discuss only the top few cards across the whole board, not the top of every column.

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Warm up first with a free team game.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Starfish Retrospective template free?

Yes. You can run it on RetroLift for free, with no account and no ads. Your team joins from one link or QR code.

How long does a Starfish Retrospective retrospective take?

Plan on 45 to 60 minutes for a team of up to about ten people. Smaller teams can finish sooner.

Can a remote team use Starfish Retrospective?

Yes. Everyone writes cards from their own laptop or phone, votes, and agrees on action items on the same live board.

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