Retree

Retro template

Mad, Sad, Glad

A retro that asks how the sprint felt before it asks what to change.

Start a Mad, Sad, Glad retroAll templates

Mad

What frustrated you?

  • A third emergency hotfix in 2 weeks
  • Pulled into support triage during focus time

Sad

What disappointed you?

  • The accessibility pass was cut again
  • The planned performance work never started

Glad

What made you happy?

  • Runbook closed the night incident in 20 minutes
  • Pairing made the search rewrite enjoyable
  • 3 lanesPrefilled the moment you start.
  • Writing timer 8 minSuggested for the preparation stage.
  • Best forTeams that are comfortable being honest with each other.

How it runs

  1. Preparation

    Cards stay blurred while the team writes for 8 minutes.

  2. Grouping

    Group by cause. A Mad card and a Sad card often pair.

  3. Voting

    3 votes each. Votes from several people mark a team problem.

  4. Discussion

    Ask what happened before the team decides what to change.

  5. Finished

    The recap holds the action items. Take Glad groups into planning.

Column by column

  • Mad

    What frustrated you?

    What made you angry this sprint. Aim at the situation rather than a colleague.

    • A third emergency hotfix in 2 weeks
    • Pulled into support triage during focus time

  • Sad

    What disappointed you?

    Disappointment rather than anger: work that did not land, or a chance missed.

    • The accessibility pass was cut again
    • The planned performance work never started

  • Glad

    What made you happy?

    What went well and gave the team energy. Glad cards are what you protect.

    • Runbook closed the night incident in 20 minutes
    • Pairing made the search rewrite enjoyable

Best for

  • Teams that are comfortable being honest with each other.
  • A sprint that was technically fine but felt bad.
  • Finding causes a status board misses, such as rework.
  • The retro after a long or stressful release.

Pick another template when

Tips

  • Say at the start that people are not the target of any card.
  • Keep anonymous cards on. This board rarely needs them off.
  • Ask for one Glad card per person before the timer runs out.

Questions

  • What is the Mad, Sad, Glad retrospective?

    3 lanes for how the sprint felt. Each person writes what angered or pleased them.

  • What is the difference between Mad and Sad?

    Mad is anger at something that happened. Sad is disappointment at a chance the team missed.

  • Is it safe after a conflict?

    It can be when cards are anonymous and the subject is situations rather than people.

  • How long does this retro take?

    About an hour for 6 people, with extra room for discussion.

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