4Ls Retrospective

For remote teams, start by creating a collaboration document, like a Confluence page. You can use the available templates or create your own. For in-person teams, get a whiteboard or large piece of paper, along with sticky notes and markers, in a meeting room.

Before the session, decide as a team on the retrospective time frame. If your company operates on a quarterly schedule, it's a good idea to look back on the last quarter.

Organize six columns titled Milestones, Loved, Loathed, Longed for, Learned, and Actions.

At the meeting's outset, communicate the following to your team:

• Our purpose today is to reflect on what’s working and what’s not working

• This is not a blame game or finger-pointing session

• We acknowledge that everyone did their best with the knowledge and tools available

• This meeting is a safe space; shared insights will not be used against anyone

Ask the team to recall significant moments from the chosen period, like goals met, celebrations, new members, and company events. This helps recall memories and feelings. Set a 10-minute timer for everyone to add their key events to the Milestones column.

Set a 10-minute timer for everyone to fill out their 4Ls for each milestone. Prior to starting, explain the 4Ls to the team:

• Loved: What you enjoyed and want to continue

• Loathed: What didn’t you enjoy

• Longed for: What you wish you had (i.e. resources, people, guidance, etc.)

• Learned: Lessons from successes and mistakes

Give everyone 10 minutes, either as a team or in breakout groups, to decide:

• One action to remove something from the Loathed list

• One action to amplify something from the Loved list

The items listed in the Longed for and Learned columns can help inform the action items you’ll commit to.

Give each group a few minutes to present their plan. Use the actions list to record:

• Who will do it

• What they are doing

• When they’ll have it done

Schedule and revisit the 4Ls Retrospective Play on a regular cadence that works best for your team (e.g., once a quarter or after project cycles). Revisiting the 4Ls is important because it builds accountability for action items and creates a consistent team ritual.