The Big Christmas Retro

Bring festive cheer to your team's reflection with this comprehensive holiday-themed retrospective. This bumper template combines seasonal metaphors with effective retrospective techniques, creating an engaging end-of-year review through Christmas-themed activities that encourage open sharing and future planning.

What Is The Big Christmas Retro?

The Big Christmas Retro is a three-part retrospective template inspired by classic Christmas stories. It combines an icebreaker mood check, a "Night Before Christmas" reflection on recent team experiences, and a "Christmas Carol" activity examining the past, present, and future. By using familiar holiday metaphors, the template creates a comfortable environment for teams to share insights about their work in a structured yet lighthearted way.

This template transforms the standard retrospective format into a festive experience, making end-of-year reflection more engaging while still delivering actionable outcomes. It's designed to work seamlessly in Metro Retro, with visually appealing Christmas graphics and organized zones for each activity.

Benefits & When to Use

  • Perfect for year-end reviews: Ideal for December retrospectives or wrapping up major projects before holiday breaks
  • Combines multiple reflection techniques: Offers varied approaches to retrospection, keeping the session fresh and engaging
  • Balances fun with productivity: Uses familiar festive metaphors while generating meaningful insights and action items
  • Creates psychological safety: The informal, holiday theme helps team members feel more comfortable sharing honest feedback
  • Comprehensive coverage: Addresses team moods, recent work, and longer-term reflection all in a single session

Use this template when you want to conduct a thorough end-of-year review, need to boost team morale during busy holiday periods, or want to add some seasonal flair to your regular retrospective routine.

How to Run a Big Christmas Retro Session

This 60-90 minute session moves through three distinct activities:

1. Icebreaker: How are you feeling? (10 minutes)

  • Direct participants to the festive mood check with characters like Sleepy Santa and Sassy Scrooge
  • Have everyone add their token with initials to the character that best represents their current mood
  • Go around and ask team members to briefly explain their choice
  • Use this activity to gauge the team's energy and set the tone for the session

2. Night Before Christmas Retrospective (25-30 minutes)

  • Introduce the three zones: Presents (what went well), Elves (who helped), and The Grinch (what went wrong)
  • Give team members 7-10 minutes to add sticky notes to all three sections
  • For each zone, have team members read their notes and discuss:
    • Presents: What good things or unexpected positive outcomes did we experience?
    • Elves: Who were our helpers and how can we leverage their support in the future?
    • Grinch: What problems did we face and how can we prevent them next time?
  • Identify 2-3 key points from each section for further action

3. A Christmas Carol Reflection (25-30 minutes)

  • Transition to the "Christmas Carol" section with its past, present, and future framework
  • Guide participants through each ghost in sequence:
    • Ghost of Christmas Past: Write and optionally share regrets, then symbolically "rip them up" using drawing tools
    • Ghost of Christmas Present: Express appreciation for team members, processes, or tools
    • Ghost of Christmas Future: Share personal or professional goals for the coming year
  • Conclude by having each team member share one key insight they're taking away from the session

4. Wrap-up and Action Items (10-15 minutes)

  • Review the key points identified throughout the retrospective
  • Collaboratively determine 2-3 concrete action items to carry forward
  • Assign owners and timeframes to each action item
  • End with a festive closing statement or seasonal well-wishes

Tips for a Successful Session

  • Set the mood: Consider playing soft holiday music in the background during individual reflection time
  • Use the 'Scrooge Mode' setting: Mention that participants can toggle Christmas decorations on/off depending on preference
  • Balance reflection depth with time: If running short on time, focus more on the "Christmas Present" and "Future" sections which drive appreciation and action
  • Be sensitive to cultural differences: Acknowledge that not everyone may celebrate Christmas and frame the activities as seasonal rather than specifically religious
  • Capture detailed notes: The template provides rich feedback - ensure you document key insights for future reference
  • Accommodate different sharing comfort levels: Remind participants that sharing personal regrets in the Christmas Past section is optional

Remember that while the theme is festive, the purpose remains professional - to generate meaningful insights and actionable improvements for your team's processes and collaboration.

Use this template