The Power of Retrospectives: Why They Matter and How They Help

Robin Koien

23 May 2019 — 3 min read

Why Would You Run Retrospectives, and What Are the Benefits?

Over the past decade, we have seen a significant increase in the usage of retrospectives worldwide. The retrospective is considered one of the most essential processes a team can implement, as it enables learning, improvement, and adaptation ¹. In this post, we take a closer look at the principles behind retrospectives and why they are so effective.

Learning from the Past: A Military Perspective

Imagine embarking on a military mission with your allies. During the mission, some of your fellow soldiers are wounded, and lives are lost. The critical question is: What can be done to prevent similar situations from happening in the future?

Military forces have long utilized a method called the After Action Report after every mission. Leaders use it as a tool to extract maximum insights from each mission or task. This structured discussion enables soldiers to analyze what happened, why it happened, and how they can maintain strengths while addressing weaknesses.

"No commander, no matter how skilled, will see as much as the individual soldiers and leaders who actually conduct the training." ³

The same principle applies to a work environment. Those who experience challenges firsthand have the most insight into what happened and what needs to change. Retrospectives address challenges that affect employee performance, motivation, and collaboration. Rather than assigning blame, these discussions focus on solutions that lead to meaningful change.

The Three Key Benefits of Retrospectives

Considering the vast amount of time we dedicate to our work, shouldn’t we strive to build strong relationships, thrive in our roles, and foster effective collaboration?

1. Collaboration, Feedback, and Trust

While expertise and technical skills are valuable, they are not nearly as crucial as creating a collaborative environment. A two-year study conducted by Google found that how a team interacts, structures its work, and perceives contributions is more important than individual talent ⁴.

One of the most critical factors in a high-performing team is psychological safety. Team members must trust each other, feel safe to share ideas, and be open to giving and receiving feedback. When done correctly, this leads to a highly motivated and high-performing team.

2. Continuous Improvement - Kaizen (改善)

Continuous improvement, known as Kaizen, lies at the core of retrospectives. The goal is to identify opportunities for growth and reduce inefficiencies.

Focusing on small, incremental changes has a significant long-term impact. Consistently making small improvements helps minimize the fear of change and accelerates progress. More importantly, it contributes to overall job satisfaction and team morale.

3. "Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results" - Albert Einstein

If you repeat the same actions without modifying your approach, you cannot expect different outcomes. This is a common pitfall in the workplace, where teams often push forward with the same methods in an attempt to achieve results. While this can yield short-term performance, stagnation eventually sets in.

"We do not learn from experience … we learn from reflecting on experience." - John Dewey

Reflecting critically on past experiences allows for deeper learning. In fast-paced work environments, it can be challenging to find time for structured reflection. However, building routines and reflection points into your workflow ensures you continuously improve instead of repeating mistakes.

By conducting regular retrospectives, teams can identify obstacles, refine their collaboration, and cultivate a feedback-driven culture that fosters continuous growth.

Conclusion

Retrospectives are an invaluable tool for teams seeking to improve their performance, strengthen collaboration, and foster a culture of continuous learning. They provide a structured space for reflection, allowing teams to turn challenges into opportunities for improvement. By incorporating retrospectives into your workflow, you can create a more effective, engaged, and resilient team.

References

Project Management Institute and Agile Alliance, Agile Practice Guide: Project Management Institute, September 2017.
Kniberg, Henrik, Scrum and XP from the Trenches, 2nd edition ed.: InfoQ, 2015.
Dingsøyr, T., Mikalsen, M., Solem, A., & Vestues, K. (2018, May). Learning in the Large—An Exploratory Study of Retrospectives in Large-Scale Agile Development. International Conference on Agile Software Development (pp. 191-198). Springer, Cham.
Version One, State of the Agile Report; 2007-2017. State of Agile Report
U.S. Army (1993). A Leader’s Guide to After-Action Reviews. Training Circular, 25-20.
Google team survey: Five Keys to a Successful Google Team