Appreciation Retro

A retrospective built around continuous improvement and an empathetic team culture. Alongside the usual reflection on what was good and what fell short, it makes space to wonder, to commit to action items and, above all, to appreciate one another. The strong emphasis on gratitude helps teams ask hard questions without fear and have courageous conversations.

😃 I'm glad that...

What made you glad this sprint, however small

Roman

I'm glad that we shipped without a weekend release

Maria

I'm glad that the new hire had someone to pair with all week

🤔 I'm wondering...

Open questions and doubts you carry into the next sprint

Anna

I'm wondering whether anyone uses the reports we keep polishing

Daria

I'm wondering if smaller tickets would fix our estimates

😢 It wasn't so great that...

What disappointed you — the problem, not the person

Maria

It wasn't so great that scope changed twice after planning

Kirill

It wasn't so great that the hotfix skipped review

✅ Action Items

Follow-ups with an owner and a date

Daria

Add a scope-change rule to the team agreement — Ana, Friday

Roman

Split anything estimated over two days — from next planning

🙏 I appreciate...

Thanks for specific help from specific people

Kirill

I appreciate Sam taking the 3am page without being asked

Anna

I appreciate Lena's incident write-up — it became our runbook

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What is an Appreciation Retro?

An Appreciation Retro is a retrospective that centers recognition and gratitude while still leaving room for honest reflection. It helps teams strengthen relationships, acknowledge each other's contributions and surface improvements in a warm, constructive tone. The QRetro template guides the conversation across five columns.

I'm glad that… — moments that went well.
I'm wondering… — open questions and curiosities.
It wasn't so great that… — honest concerns.
Action Items — concrete next steps.
I appreciate… — direct thanks to teammates.

I'm glad that…

This column captures the highlights — wins, smooth collaboration and good decisions. Starting on a positive note sets a safe, generous tone for the rest of the session.

I'm wondering…

Wonders are open questions and gentle curiosities about how things work or could improve. They invite exploration without putting anyone on the defensive.

It wasn't so great that…

Here the team names what did not go well, honestly but kindly. Framing concerns within an appreciative session keeps feedback constructive rather than blaming.

Action Items

Action Items turn discussion into commitment. Each card should describe a clear next step with an owner so the retro leads to real change.

I appreciate…

This is the heart of the format: direct, specific thanks to teammates. Naming who did what and why it mattered builds trust and motivation.

Benefits of an Appreciation Retro

Strengthens trust and psychological safety.
Makes recognition a regular team habit.
Balances gratitude with honest, actionable feedback.
Boosts morale and motivation.
Surfaces concerns in a constructive tone.
Ends with clear, owned action items.

How to run an Appreciation Retro

Create a board in QRetro using the Appreciation Retro template.
Give everyone quiet time to add cards across the five columns.
Start by sharing the "I'm glad that…" and "I appreciate…" cards.
Move through wonders and honest concerns with curiosity, not blame.
Group related cards and agree on the most important action items.
Assign owners and close with a round of direct appreciation.

Similar templates

Other formats teams pair with this one — open any of them as a board in one click.

Christmas Retro

A festive retrospective that borrows the spirit of A Christmas Carol. Christmas Past reflects on what could have gone differently, Christmas Present on what's working and the people worth thanking, and Christmas Future on what the team wants ahead — with a lighthearted Foodie column to share favorite treats. A warm, seasonal way to close out the year together.

Retrospective Template: Good, Bad, Learned, and Learning

A learning-focused format that adds a forward-looking twist to the classic review. The team reflects on what went well and what didn't, then looks at what it wanted to learn this sprint — and whether it did — before naming what it wants to learn next. The emphasis on continuous learning makes it a great fit for teams investing in their own growth.

Halloween Retrospective Template - Spooky Sprint!

A spooky, themed retrospective that walks the team through the full retro flow in costume. Halloween Treats set the scene, Ghost Stories gather the data, Trick or Treat generates insights and Pick a Door decides what to do, before the Spook of the Sprint closes things out. The playful theme makes a structured retrospective feel like a celebration.

Plus Delta Template

One of the simplest and fastest retrospective formats there is. The plus column collects everything going well that should be repeated, while the delta column gathers what the team wants to change or improve. Its minimal structure makes it perfect for quick check-ins and teams that want to retrospect often without overhead.

Energy Levels

A check-in format that focuses on the team's energy rather than its tasks. Participants place themselves between fully charged, medium power and low battery, then reflect on what drained or fueled the sprint's energy. Tracking it over time helps spot burnout early and keep the team's pace sustainable.

Weather Forecast Retrospective

A vivid metaphor that describes the sprint as a weather forecast. Stormy stands for the turbulent issues, rainy for the troublesome challenges, cloudy for the things that turned out rosy and sunny for what felt bright and successful. The imagery makes it easy to express how the sprint felt and to spot patterns across several retrospectives.

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