Themed
Hot-Air Balloon retrospective template
Run a Hot-Air Balloon retrospective free online: hot air, sandbags, storms, sunny skies. No sign-up.
Opens a new board with these columns, right in your browser.
What is the Hot-Air Balloon retrospective?
The Hot-Air Balloon retro imagines the team as a balloon: Hot air lifts it, Sandbags weigh it down, Storms are risks ahead, and Sunny skies are good conditions to look forward to. It is a cousin of the Sailboat with a lighter, more optimistic feel.
The columns
- Hot air
- Sandbags
- Storms
- Sunny skies
When to use it
Use it to refresh your routine, for teams that like metaphors, or when you want to look at both risks and opportunities.
Facilitator tip: use Sunny skies to collect opportunities, not only good news. A new tool, a helpful stakeholder or a quieter quarter are all sunny conditions the team can plan to use, which makes the session feel optimistic without ignoring the storms.
How to run it in Peel in 5 steps
- Create a Hot-air balloon board and share the link.
- Write for six minutes in all four columns.
- Reveal and group cards.
- Vote on Sandbags and Storms and discuss.
- Agree on which sandbags to drop and how to prepare for storms.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from Sailboat?
Same idea, different picture. Sunny skies adds a positive look ahead.
Is it suitable for non-tech teams?
Yes, the metaphor is universal.