Agile Retrospectives

4.2 Activity: Focus On/Focus Off

Use this to set the stage in an iteration retrospective.

Purpose

Help establish a mind-set for productive communication. Help participants set aside blaming and judgment—and fear of blaming and judgment.

Time needed

Eight to twelve minutes, depending on the size of the group.

Description

After welcoming the participants and reviewing the goal and agenda, the retrospective leader describes productive and unproductive communication patterns. After describing those patterns, the participants discuss what they mean for the retrospective.

Steps

1. Draw attention to the Focus On/Focus Off poster (see Figure 5, ​Focus on/Focus off activity​) and briefly read through it.

2. Form small groups, with no more than four people per group. Ask each group to take one pair of words to define and describe. If there are more than four pairs/groups, it’s OK if more than one group has the same pair of words.

3. Ask each group to discuss what their two words mean and what behaviors they represent. Have them describe the impact each would have on the team and the retrospective.

4. Each group reports on their discussion to the whole team.

5. Ask people whether they are willing to stay in the left column (Focus On descriptions).

Materials and Preparation

Prepare a flip chart with the Focus On/Focus Off terms ahead of time.

Examples

This is a great activity ...