FLAT Retrospective

FLAT Retrospective

The FLAT (Future, Lessons, Accomplishments, Thanks) format offers a structured approach to retrospectives, emphasizing both forward-thinking and reflection. By focusing on the team's future direction while acknowledging lessons and accomplishments, it provides a comprehensive view of the team's journey. The addition of a gratitude section ensures that teams also recognize and appreciate each other's contributions.

When to Choose FLAT

FLAT is particularly suited for teams that value a balanced reflection, combining both forward planning and past learnings. It's ideal for teams at the end of significant milestones, where setting future directions is as crucial as understanding past experiences. If your team seeks to acknowledge achievements, learn from experiences, and set clear future goals, the FLAT retrospective is a fitting choice.

🔮 Future

What is our future direction?

This column is about setting the course for what lies ahead. It's an opportunity for the team to discuss goals, aspirations, and the direction they want to take in the upcoming sprints or projects.

🤔 Lessons

What have we learned?

Reflection is key to growth. Here, the team can discuss the insights they've gained, the challenges they've faced, and the lessons they'll carry forward.

🏆 Accomplishments

What shall we celebrate?

Every journey has its milestones. This section is about acknowledging the achievements, big or small, and celebrating the team's successes.

🌟 Thanks

Who do you want to thank?

Gratitude fosters a positive team environment. This column allows team members to express appreciation for each other, recognizing efforts, support, or any act that made a difference.

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The FLAT retrospective format is about balance. By combining forward-thinking with reflection and gratitude, it ensures that teams have a holistic view of their performance, fostering both growth and cohesion.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FLAT retrospective template?

The FLAT retrospective template (Future, Lessons, Accomplishments, Thanks) is a forward-focused retrospective format that uniquely prioritizes future planning over past problems. Unlike most retrospective formats that dwell on what went wrong, FLAT leads with future direction, then contextualizes it with lessons learned and accomplishments achieved. The gratitude component (Thanks) adds a team-building dimension often missing from purely analytical formats, making FLAT ideal for teams that want to maintain positive momentum while learning from experience.

When should you use the FLAT retrospective template?

Use the FLAT template at the end of significant milestones, project phases, or quarters when teams need to pivot from reflection to planning. It's particularly effective after successes when you want to maintain positive energy while setting new goals, or when team morale needs a boost since FLAT emphasizes accomplishments and gratitude over problems. FLAT works well for mature teams who don't need to dwell on issues but rather want to align on future direction while celebrating progress.

How do you run a FLAT retrospective meeting effectively?

To run an effective FLAT retrospective, follow these steps:

• Set the stage - Use a mood check-in and play icebreaker music to create a positive, forward-looking atmosphere
• Brainstorm - Give 5-10 minutes for individual brainstorming. Start with Future (goals and aspirations), then Lessons (insights gained), Accomplishments (wins to celebrate), and Thanks (gratitude for teammates). Allow anonymous contributions for Lessons and Accomplishments, but encourage named Thanks
• Group and sort - Group and sort similar items, especially in Future and Lessons columns
• Discuss and vote - Review items and vote to prioritize future goals, key lessons, and top accomplishments. Read all Thanks aloud to celebrate contributions
• Create action items - Focus on Future column to assign owners and deadlines for upcoming goals. Link Lessons to Future actions: "We learned X, so we'll do Y going forward"
• Share summary - Export and share the retro summary, especially the Thanks section for team recognition

The session typically takes 45-60 minutes. Start with Future to set a forward-looking tone rather than dwelling on past problems.

What makes a good FLAT retrospective discussion?

Good FLAT discussions balance forward momentum with meaningful reflection:

• Future - Be specific about goals. "Improve code quality" becomes "Achieve 80% test coverage by next quarter"
• Lessons - Connect lessons to concrete changes. "We learned testing matters" becomes "Late bug discovery cost us 2 weeks - we'll write tests first"
• Accomplishments - Celebrate both big wins and small victories to maintain team morale
• Thanks - Be specific and sincere. "Thanks John for staying late to fix the deployment bug" is more meaningful than "Thanks team"

The key is using Lessons and Accomplishments to inform Future planning - learning from the past to shape the path forward, not dwelling on problems.

How is FLAT different from other retrospective formats?

FLAT is uniquely future-focused while most formats are past-focused. Traditional formats like Mad Sad Glad or Start Stop Continue analyze what happened and decide what to change. FLAT flips this - it starts with where you want to go (Future), then uses Lessons and Accomplishments to inform that direction. The Thanks column also sets FLAT apart by explicitly building team appreciation into the retrospective structure. This makes FLAT more optimistic and forward-looking than problem-focused formats, ideal for maintaining momentum after successes.

What are the benefits of using the FLAT retrospective template?

The FLAT template offers several key benefits:

• Forward momentum - Starting with Future keeps teams oriented toward goals rather than dwelling on problems
• Positive energy - Accomplishments and Thanks sections boost morale and team cohesion
• Learning orientation - Lessons column captures insights without the negativity of problem-focused formats
• Team building - Thanks section explicitly fosters appreciation and recognition

FLAT prevents retrospective fatigue by avoiding the repetitive problem-identification that can make retrospectives feel draining. It's energizing rather than exhausting, making it ideal for maintaining long-term retrospective engagement.

What are some alternatives to the FLAT retrospective template?

If you're looking for different retrospective formats and templates, consider these alternatives:

• DAKI retrospective - When you need more problem-solving focus with clear Drop, Add, Keep, and Improve decisions rather than FLAT's future orientation
• Sailboat retrospective - When you want metaphor-based future planning (destination, wind, anchors) that feels more creative than FLAT's direct approach
• Four Ls retrospective - When you need balanced past reflection (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For) without FLAT's strong future emphasis

Each format serves different scenarios - FLAT excels when teams need forward momentum and positivity over deep problem analysis.