Start, Stop, Continue Retrospective
The most actionable retro format — every column maps directly to a behaviour change.
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The board
01
START
What should we start doing?
02
STOP
What should we stop doing?
03
CONTINUE
What should we keep doing?
Start, Stop, Continue is the most action-oriented retrospective format there is. Instead of asking how people felt, it asks what the team should do differently — every single card is already a proposal for change.
That makes it ideal for teams that find retrospectives too abstract. There is no translation step between insight and action: a card in the Start column is a new experiment, a card in Stop is waste to remove, and a card in Continue protects what already works.
When to use Start · Stop · Continue
- Your team keeps having the same discussions without behaviour actually changing
- You want a fast, low-ceremony retro that still produces concrete outcomes
- A new team needs a simple shared vocabulary for its first retrospectives
- Mid-project checkpoints where you can still change course
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 Start, Stop, Continue retrospective?
It is a retrospective format with three columns: things the team should start doing, things it should stop doing, and things it should continue doing. Every card is a directly actionable behaviour change rather than an observation.
How long should a Start, Stop, Continue retro take?
For a team of 5-8 people, 45-60 minutes works well: about 10 minutes writing cards, 5 minutes voting, 25 minutes discussing the top-voted cards, and 10 minutes committing to action items.
What is the difference between Stop and Start?
Stop removes existing waste — meetings, handoffs, or habits that cost more than they return. Start introduces new experiments. Teams often overload Start; a good facilitator pushes for at least as many Stop cards, because removing work is usually cheaper than adding it.
Is this template free to use?
Yes. Retromik is a free retrospective tool — sign up, pick the Start, Stop, Continue template, and share the board link with your team. Participants can join as guests without an account.
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ViewRun your next retro with Start · Stop · Continue
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