The Start Stop Continue Retrospective
Start Stop Continue is the most action-oriented retrospective format. Every card points at a behaviour to change or keep, which makes it easy to leave with a clear plan.
What is Start Stop Continue?
It is a retrospective with three columns: Start, Stop, and Continue. Instead of asking how people felt, it asks what the team should do differently. That focus on behaviour is why many teams use it as their default. The cards practically turn themselves into action points.
What each column means
Start
New things the team should begin doing. Ideas and practices worth trying next sprint.
Stop
Things that are not working and should end. Wasted effort, habits that slow the team down.
Continue
Things that work well and are worth keeping. Habits to protect and reinforce.
When to use it
Start Stop Continue is a safe default for almost any team, especially when you want concrete outcomes rather than a broad discussion. It is great for teams that feel their retros never lead anywhere, because the format is built around action. If the team needs to talk about how the sprint felt instead, the Mad Sad Glad format is a better choice.
How to run it
- Set up the three columns and explain what each one is for.
- Write privately so everyone adds their own Start, Stop, and Continue cards without being influenced.
- Reveal and group the cards into themes.
- Vote on the most important items to focus the discussion.
- Turn the top items into actions with an owner for each.
Tips
- →Keep the Start column realistic. Two new things done well beats ten ignored.
- →Do not skip Continue. Naming what works stops the team from quietly dropping good habits.
- →Revisit the actions next retro to check they actually happened.
Run a Start Stop Continue retro
Start a free session, pick the Start Stop Continue template, and leave with a clear plan. No account needed.