
#158 Aaron Dignan: Change The Way You Work
The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish
What Makes for a Good Retrospective?
The key to a good retrospective lies in three key aspects: the before, during, and after. In the before aspect, having a culture of communication and feedback establishes a safe space for open and authentic conversations. This sets the stage for a productive retrospective. The middle part of a retrospective is about asking the right questions and providing a structure that challenges the team. Engaging prompts and group sense-making are crucial for a profound conversation. If conversations are lacking, adjustments may be needed to encourage participation. Finally, the last aspect focuses on what teams do with the insights gained from the retrospective. Many teams struggle to follow through on the ideas generated. Having a culture of agreements in place helps operationalize and implement the changes identified during the retrospective. By translating insights into actionable agreements, teams can truly benefit and drive impactful change in their work.