Retro template
Start Stop Continue Retrospective Template
Start Stop Continue helps teams decide which behaviours to begin, which habits to drop, and which practices to keep after a sprint.
Best for
- Teams that want a simple action-focused retro.
- New teams that need clear prompts without much facilitation.
- Sprints where process habits matter more than individual events.
- Remote retros where everyone needs an easy way to contribute.
Prompts to ask
- What should we start doing next sprint?
- What should we stop doing because it slows us down?
- What should we continue because it helps the team?
- Which one change would have the biggest impact?
How to run this retrospective online
- Create a Sprint Retro room in Agile Tools.
- Choose the Start / Stop / Continue format during setup.
- Invite the team with the room link.
- Ask everyone to add ideas in the write round.
- Reveal, vote, discuss the highest-impact cards, and capture actions.
Facilitation tips
- Keep Start items practical enough to try in one sprint.
- Make Stop items about behaviours or process, not blame.
- Use Continue to reinforce what already works.
- Finish with one or two owned actions so the retro creates change.
FAQ
What is Start Stop Continue?
Start Stop Continue is a retrospective format where teams list what to start doing, stop doing, and continue doing in the next sprint.
When should I use Start Stop Continue?
Use it when your team wants a clear improvement conversation and practical actions without a complex retro format.
Can I run Start Stop Continue online?
Yes. Agile Tools lets you run Start Stop Continue online with a shared room link, voting, discussion rounds, and summary export.