I\u2019ve got a confession to make: I think fun in retrospectives is overrated. And I never bring cookies, when I facilitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t get me wrong, I prefer having a good time to moping about and yes, I prefer participants to be in a good mood. Light hearted people are more creative and willing to try new things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But all my most important \nretrospectives \u2013 the ones I still remember years later \u2013 were horrible! \nOr at the very least deeply uncomfortable. That holds true regardless of\n whether I facilitated or was a regular participant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The important retrospectives, the ones that really counted and made a profound difference were about troubling topics: When something or someone wasn\u2019t working out despite everyone’s best efforts. These retros had a big impact like teams dissolving; people leaving teams or even the company. That’s category of events I’m talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something like that is decidedly not fun. But it\u2019s necessary to have these conversations. I\u2019m grateful to people who have the guts to bring up the crucial topics even if it hurts in that moment. After the dust has settled everyone is better off, because a harmful situation has turned into a new beginning. And work in general, not just retrospectives, has a chance to be fun again.<\/p>\n\n\n
I\u2019ve got a confession to make: I think fun in retrospectives is overrated. And I never bring cookies, when I facilitate. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I prefer having a good time to moping about and yes, I prefer participants to be in a good mood. Light hearted people are more creative and willing to try … <\/p>\n