Retrospective Facilitation — Vocabulary and Language
Learn vocabulary for facilitating sprint retrospectives: formats, phrases, and facilitation language.
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What does 'What went well / What could be improved' format cover?
This basic retrospective format (also called Plus/Delta or Glad/Sad) separates positive patterns (what to keep doing) from improvement areas — creating a safe, structured reflection on the team's process.
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What is the 'sailboat' retrospective format?
The sailboat retrospective uses a visual metaphor: the boat is the team, the island is the goal, wind represents what helps, anchors represent what slows, and rocks represent risks. Creates engaging discussion of blockers and accelerators.
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What is the facilitator's role when discussion becomes dominated by one person?
A facilitator ensures balanced participation: acknowledging contributions, then explicitly inviting quieter members. 'Let's hear from someone who hasn't contributed yet' is a standard facilitation phrase.
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What is 'action item ownership' in retrospective vocabulary?
Action item ownership means each agreed action has a named owner — not 'the team will do X' but 'Alex will do X by sprint end'. Without ownership, action items are frequently forgotten.
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What does 'safety check' mean at the start of a retrospective?
A safety check (e.g., Roman Vote, anonymous card) asks: 'How safe do you feel sharing honestly today?' Low scores signal the facilitator should use anonymous formats or address trust issues before running a standard retrospective.