Plus / Delta Retrospective
The fastest retro there is: two columns, five minutes — what worked, and what we'll change.
Free · No credit card · Guests join by link
The board
01
PLUS
What worked well?
02
DELTA
What should we change?
Plus/Delta is the most stripped-down retrospective there is: one column for what worked (Plus) and one for what you'd change next time (Delta). No metaphor, no five categories — just two questions you can run in five minutes at the end of any meeting, not only at sprint boundaries.
Its power is speed and low ceremony. Because there's nowhere to hide a vague observation, Plus/Delta pushes people to be concrete — a Delta is a change you'd actually make, not a complaint. It's the ideal format for teams new to retros, for very short cycles, or for wrapping up a workshop or incident review.
When to use Plus · Delta
- Time-boxed retros — a five-minute wrap-up at the end of any meeting or workshop
- Teams new to retrospectives who need the lowest-friction starting point
- Very short cycles (kanban, continuous flow) where a full metaphor format is overkill
- Post-incident or post-event reviews that just need 'what worked / what to change'
How to run it in Retromik
- 1
Create cards anonymously
Everyone adds cards to each column at the same time. In Retromik, cards stay concealed and anonymous while people write, so nobody anchors on the loudest voice.
- 2
Vote on what matters
Each person places a limited set of voting tokens on the cards they think deserve discussion. Limited tokens force real prioritization.
- 3
Discuss the top cards
Walk through the highest-voted cards one by one. The facilitator steers the focus; anyone can comment on any card.
- 4
Reveal and group themes
Authors are revealed and the facilitator drags related cards into named themes, turning scattered notes into patterns.
- 5
Commit to action items
Convert the discussion into specific, owned action items with due dates — the part most retrospectives skip.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Plus/Delta retrospective?
A minimalist two-column retrospective: Plus for what worked and should continue, Delta for what the team would change next time. It is the fastest, lowest-ceremony retro format, often run in five minutes at the end of a meeting rather than only at sprint boundaries.
What's the difference between a Delta and a complaint?
A Delta is a specific change you would actually make — 'timebox standup to 10 minutes' — not a vague grievance like 'standups are too long.' Framing the column as 'change' rather than 'bad' keeps it constructive and action-oriented.
When should I use Plus/Delta instead of a bigger format?
Use it when time is tight, the team is new to retros, or the cycle is short. For deeper reflection on momentum, risks, or emotions, a format like Sailboat, Speed Car, or Mad-Sad-Glad gives more structure.
Is the Plus/Delta template free?
Yes. Retromik is free — create a Plus/Delta board, share the link, and guests join without an account. Cards stay anonymous while people write.
Related templates
Start · Stop · Continue
The most actionable retro format — every column maps directly to a behaviour change.
ViewMad · Sad · Glad
An emotional check-in that surfaces how the team actually feels — before it becomes attrition.
ViewEngine · Parachute · Cliff
A racing metaphor everyone gets instantly: what's flooring the accelerator, what's dragging like a parachute, and the cliff up ahead.
ViewRun your next retro with Plus · Delta
Create the board in under a minute, share the link, and your team joins anonymously — no accounts needed for participants.
Start free