Retro template
Mad Sad Glad Retrospective Template
Mad Sad Glad helps teams talk about the emotions behind the sprint, making it easier to understand friction, disappointment, and positive moments.
Best for
- Teams that need to rebuild trust or psychological safety.
- Sprints with high pressure, incidents, or unclear expectations.
- Remote teams where emotional signals are easy to miss.
- Facilitators who want feedback beyond process mechanics.
Prompts to ask
- What made you glad during this sprint?
- What made you sad or disappointed?
- What made you mad or frustrated?
- What action would reduce the strongest negative theme?
How to run this retrospective online
- Create a Sprint Retro room in Agile Tools.
- Choose the Mad / Sad / Glad format during setup.
- Give the team quiet writing time before revealing cards.
- Reveal themes, vote on what matters most, and discuss safely.
- Capture actions that address repeated frustration or protect positive habits.
Facilitation tips
- Set safety expectations before writing starts.
- Treat emotions as signals, not problems to dismiss.
- Group similar cards before voting if the board gets busy.
- Move from emotion to action before closing the retro.
FAQ
What is Mad Sad Glad?
Mad Sad Glad is a retrospective format where team members share what made them frustrated, disappointed, or happy during the sprint.
When should I use Mad Sad Glad?
Use it when the team needs to talk about morale, pressure, conflict, or motivation as well as delivery process.
Can Mad Sad Glad be anonymous?
Anonymous input can help people share honestly. Agile Tools supports shared online writing rounds so remote teams can contribute more evenly.