Quick check-ins (under five minutes)
Fast rounds when the retro is timeboxed or you just need a gentle warm-up before the main format.
Questions
In one word, what was your sprint weather?
A thirty-second round where everyone shares a single word that captures how the sprint felt—stormy, foggy, sunny, humid.
Thumbs up / sideways / down—how is your energy?
On video or in the tool, everyone signals energy with thumbs. Facilitator thanks the room and notes the mix.
Rate the sprint 1–5 with one line of context
Each person posts a number and a short reason. Cluster highs and lows before the main format.
What are you bringing into this retro?
Each person completes: “I’m bringing ___ into this retro.” No fixing yet—just naming.