Team projects can last several months or even years. In that time, teams will experience small victories and setbacks. A virtual retrospective meeting is a chance to review all the highs and lows of the project timeline and discuss ways to improve future projects.
The crucial thing about a retrospective is team members must feel comfortable sharing their opinions without consequence. If fear overshadows a retrospective, it will not be productive, meaning teams won't learn from their mistakes.
It is also important to point out that retrospectives are not only about pointing out project-related errors but also a time to discuss teamwork. Team members must feel free to discuss how the team environment did or didn't work for them.
Facilitate Transparency On Your Team
Transparency is the key to a successful retrospective, and you must have transparency with trust. Trust usually flourishes in a communicative environment where every voice is equal, regardless of position.
Before facilitating a retrospective, take the time to examine past sessions. Were members able to share their thoughts without criticism or negativity? Did supervisors intimidate or talk over colleagues and team members?
The only way to have a successful retrospective is by recognizing all faults. If management has come down on people in the past, identify the issue and explain ways to improve.
Transparency is not only about lower-level team members but the entire organization. If a company can facilitate transparency on the corporate level, it can also manage it on the team and individual levels.
Get the Most Out of Each Sprint
Sprints are different from a conclusive and remote retrospective meeting. Sprint retrospectives typically take place within a project timeline at set intervals. For example, some teams may choose bi-monthly sprint retrospectives, which is a fancy way of saying they have two retrospectives per month.
Sprint retrospectives do not focus on the entire project; instead, they reflect on a specific period. These frequent retrospectives aim to improve team performance and communication throughout the project.
Focusing on real issues and measurable successes is essential to get the most out of sprint retrospectives. While it is necessary to deal with conflict resolution, the primary objective of sprints is to focus on the project and the deadline.
Set and Maintain a Positive Tone
While there are many tips for a retrospective, the most significant one is maintaining a positive tone. It is easy for people to focus on the mistakes or challenges of a project and forget the successes. A healthy retrospective balances challenge with praise and motivation.
A team is more than its mistakes, and it is crucial that team members feel that. Leadership needs to show teams how much they value and support them. Praise for a job well done is not enough; managers and supervisors need to pinpoint specific praise-worthy things. They need to provide individual attention and gratitude.
While retrospectives are reflective, they are also meetings to offer hope and change for the future. Keep sight of the positive force of these meetings.
A virtual retrospective is a meeting for reflecting on the project journey. It is a time to review the team's performance and the problems and challenges of a project. While these meetings can seem daunting and negative, they are tools for growth and positivity. A successful retrospective will leave team members feeling appreciated and valued. It should also leave them feeling heard. If you are preparing for your team's next retrospective and could use a few pointers or some insight into a positive environment, speak to a CVO representative.