Sweet, Sour, Spicy
🧾 What is this template about?
This retrospective template is a food-themed twist on the classic Glad, Sad, Mad format. It helps teams reflect on their last sprint or project by sorting feedback into three flavourful categories:
Sweet for the wins,
Sour for the disappointments, and
Spicy for the frustrations or heated moments.
An optional icebreaker, Potluck Picks, gets everyone warmed up by sharing what dish they’d bring to a work potluck.
🎯 What does it help you achieve?
This template helps teams:
Reflect on emotional highs and lows in a more engaging way
Encourage participation with humor and relatability
Spark honest conversations and surface underlying issues
End with clear, actionable steps based on team input
👥 Who would benefit most from using it?
Remote agile teams looking to keep retrospectives light and engaging
Scrum masters or facilitators who want to boost participation
Cross-functional teams reflecting on sprints, launches, or collaborative efforts
Teams who like a little fun and flavor in their process rituals
🧑🍳 How to use it
Kick off with the icebreaker (optional) – Ask each team member to share what dish they’d bring to a work potluck by adding a sticky to the “Potluck Picks” board. It’s a simple way to start on a fun note.
Set a timer and guide the team through the three food-flavored feedback sections:
Sweet – Delicious Wins: What went well?
Sour – Pucker Up Disappointments: What didn’t go as planned?
Spicy – Too Hot to Handle: What caused stress, tension, or friction?
Facilitate discussion around common themes or surprising insights.
Capture concrete actions in the “Actions” area to help your team improve and move forward.
Wrap up with a thank-you toast or invite someone to “serve the next course” (host the next retro!).
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