4L's Retrospective
A 4L's Retrospective is a team meeting format to gather insights based on the categories of Liked, Learned, Lacked, and Longed For.
What is a 4L's Retrospective?
A 4Ls Retrospective is a team reflection exercise that focuses on four key areas: Liked, Learned, Lacked, and Longed For. During this retrospective, team members discuss what they enjoyed or appreciated about their recent work (Liked), the new knowledge or skills they acquired (Learned), what resources or support were missing (Lacked), and what they wish they had to improve future projects (Longed For). This structured approach promotes open communication, identifies strengths and areas for improvement, and encourages continuous enhancement of team processes and outcomes.
How to Conduct a 4L's Retrospective?
Conducting a 4Ls Retrospective involves several steps to ensure that the team reflects effectively on their work. Here is a guide on how to conduct one:
- Preparation: Schedule the retrospective meeting and invite all team members. Prepare a shared space for collaboration, such as a whiteboard, sticky notes, or a digital tool like Miro or MURAL. Create four sections labeled: Liked, Learned, Lacked, and Longed For.
- Introduction: Start the meeting by explaining the purpose of the 4Ls Retrospective. Encourage open and honest communication, emphasizing that the goal is to learn and improve together.
- Brainstorming: Give each team member time to think and write down their thoughts for each of the four categories. Allow team members to add their notes to the respective sections on the shared space.
- Discussion: Review each section one by one. Encourage team members to elaborate on their points, asking questions to clarify and understand their perspectives. Discuss the items in detail, highlighting any common themes or significant insights.
Columns in 4L's Retrospective
A 4Ls Retrospective is a simple yet effective method for teams to reflect on their work and processes. It stands for:
- Liked: This column is for noting down what team members appreciated or enjoyed about the recent sprint, project, or work period. It includes positive experiences, effective practices, and successful outcomes.
- Learned: This column captures new knowledge, skills, or insights that team members gained during the recent work. It focuses on lessons learned and information that can benefit future projects.
- Lacked: In this column, team members identify what was missing or could have been improved. It highlights gaps in resources, tools, support, or processes that hindered progress or efficiency.
- Longed For: This column is for expressing desires or wishes for future projects. It includes aspirations for improvements, additional resources, or changes that team members believe would enhance their work environment or outcomes.
When to Conduct a 4L's Retrospective?
A 4Ls Retrospective is typically conducted at key intervals to maximize its effectiveness and relevance. Here are the optimal times to conduct one:
- End of a Sprint or Iteration: After completing a sprint or iteration in agile development, to review and reflect on the team's performance and outcomes.
- Completion of a Project Milestone: At the end of a significant project or upon reaching major milestones, to assess what went well and what could be improved for future projects.
- After Significant Events or Initiatives: Following significant changes, such as team restructuring, process modifications, or the introduction of new tools, to understand their impact and gather feedback.
- Regularly Scheduled Reviews: On a regular schedule, such as monthly or quarterly, to maintain continuous improvement and ensure consistent reflection and adaptation.
- When Facing Challenges: When the team encounters repeated issues or challenges, to identify root causes and develop strategies for improvement.
How can you conduct a 4L's retrospective with Agilebin?
Effortlessly conduct a 4L's retrospective with Agilebin's ready-to-use template!
Why Agilebin's template? Because it provides a realistic and immersive experience, making your 4L's retrospective feel authentic and meaningful. With Agilebin's ready-to-use template, you'll feel like you're navigating through the actual process, allowing for a more effective and insightful retrospective session.
Choose 4L's retrospective template in Agilebin
Choose the 4L's Retrospective template from Agilebin's collection of retrospective templates. This template is specifically designed to facilitate the 4L's Retrospective process, providing a structured framework for your team's reflection and improvement discussions
Invite team members to participate in the retrospective session
Invite team members to participate in the retrospective session by adding their email addresses or sharing the session link directly with them. You can choose between public access using a link, allowing anyone with the link to join, or restricted access, limiting participation to specific users or teams.
Facilitate Discussion with Sticky Notes
Agilebin offers pre-defined columns for the 4L's Retrospective, including "Liked," "Learned," "Lacked," and "Longed For." Participants can add sticky notes to each column during the retrospective session, sharing their feedback, observations, and suggestions
