5 Creative Halloween Retrospective Ideas 🎃
Slowly but surely approaching again a special time of the year: Halloween🎃
Do you know how much money is spent on Halloween items every year? A lot! Every year, Americans invest around 6,7 billion dollars in sweets, costumes, pumpkins and Halloween parties for Halloween💰
With us, on the other hand, you get completely free ideas for Halloween retrospectives that pay tribute to this supernatural time🎉
Halloween Retrospective - Why?
This is an easy question to answer: You can reflect on your past meetings and tasks as a team with our Halloween retrospectives in keeping with the zombie theme, talk about spooky traditions together, and assess the stability of your performance pumpkin style🎃
Speaking of pumpkins, if you’re interested in how much the heaviest pumpkin in the world weighed, stay tuned until the end🔍
For real Halloween fans that would certainly be reason enough, but we have even more aces up our sleeves😎
Halloween Warm-Up / Icebreaker for the Retro
A good warm-up is part of every good retrospective. It has been found that the speaking rate of all participants increases if they have already said something at the beginning as part of the warm-up🙊
Therefore, use one of our new Halloween warm-ups to match your Halloween retrospective!
Halloween Retro Icebreaker #1
Warm-Up: Your last week as a pumpkin
With this retrospective icebreaker idea, you and your team can think about and vote on what your last week of work as a pumpkin would look like 🎃 - see image below.
Why did each person decide the way they did? Everyone briefly answers this question in this Retrospective Icebreaker to get in the mood for the rest of the Reflection Workshop.
By the way, this Retrospective Icebreaker is of course also available in our Echometer Retrospective Tool and can be done on our whiteboard. You can access your retrospective directly via our Halloween Retrospective Ideas below or via the following link: Retro preparation in Echometer.
Halloween Retrospectives
If you are still not in the Halloween mood, wait for our Halloween retrospectives.
We have prepared 5 ideas for you, with which your Halloween retrospective is guaranteed to be successful!💯
Method 1: Halloween Retrospectives
The Halloween Retrospective
This classic already exists in the Echometer app, but when, if not now, could this format be so aptly applied?
Halloween Retrospective: How the retro works
-
Random Icebreaker (2-5 minutes)
Echometer provides you with a generator for random check-in questions.
-
Review of open actions (2-5 minutes)
Before starting with new topics, you should talk about what has become of the measures from past retrospectives to check their effectiveness. Echometer automatically lists all open action items from past retros.
-
Discuss retro topics
Use the following open questions to collect your most important findings. First, everyone does it themselves, covered. Echometer allows you to reveal each column of the retro board individually in order to then present and group the feedback.
- 😱 Horror: What was your scary moment in this sprint?
- 🍭Treats: What treats have we prepared for our stakeholders?
- 😈Tricks: What tricks (that may be played on us) do we need to watch out for?
-
Catch-all question (Recommended)
So that other topics also have a place:
- What else would you like to talk about in the retro?
-
Prioritization / Voting (5 minutes)
On the retro board in Echometer, you can easily prioritize the feedback with voting. The voting is of course anonymous.
-
Define actions (10-20 minutes)
You can create a linked action via the plus symbol on a feedback. Not sure which measure would be the right one? Then open a whiteboard on the topic via the plus symbol instead to brainstorm root causes and possible measures.
-
Checkout / Closing (5 minutes)
Echometer enables you to collect anonymous feedback from the team on how helpful the retro was. This creates the ROTI score ("Return On Time Invested"), which you can track over time.
Halloween Retrospective
Method 2: Halloween Retrospectives
The Zombie Retrospective
Zombies are very popular, especially around Halloween - so why not reflect in zombie mode for a Halloween retrospective?
Zombie Retrospective: How the retro works
-
Random Icebreaker (2-5 minutes)
Echometer provides you with a generator for random check-in questions.
-
Review of open actions (2-5 minutes)
Before starting with new topics, you should talk about what has become of the measures from past retrospectives to check their effectiveness. Echometer automatically lists all open action items from past retros.
-
Discuss retro topics
Use the following open questions to collect your most important findings. First, everyone does it themselves, covered. Echometer allows you to reveal each column of the retro board individually in order to then present and group the feedback.
- ☠️Lifeless: Which meeting has felt lifeless recently?
- 🧟Zombie: Which tasks moved as slowly as a zombie?
- ❗Survival strategies: What survival strategies have helped us recently?
-
Catch-all question (Recommended)
So that other topics also have a place:
- What else would you like to talk about in the retro?
-
Prioritization / Voting (5 minutes)
On the retro board in Echometer, you can easily prioritize the feedback with voting. The voting is of course anonymous.
-
Define actions (10-20 minutes)
You can create a linked action via the plus symbol on a feedback. Not sure which measure would be the right one? Then open a whiteboard on the topic via the plus symbol instead to brainstorm root causes and possible measures.
-
Checkout / Closing (5 minutes)
Echometer enables you to collect anonymous feedback from the team on how helpful the retro was. This creates the ROTI score ("Return On Time Invested"), which you can track over time.
Zombie Retrospective
Method 3: Halloween Retrospectives
The BOO! Retrospective
This Halloween retrospective idea is scary good, you’ll see. If these questions don’t convince you, then maybe at least the level of witty wordplay just now👻
BOO! Retrospective: How the retro works
-
Random Icebreaker (2-5 minutes)
Echometer provides you with a generator for random check-in questions.
-
Review of open actions (2-5 minutes)
Before starting with new topics, you should talk about what has become of the measures from past retrospectives to check their effectiveness. Echometer automatically lists all open action items from past retros.
-
Discuss retro topics
Use the following open questions to collect your most important findings. First, everyone does it themselves, covered. Echometer allows you to reveal each column of the retro board individually in order to then present and group the feedback.
- 💀B for Bogeyman: What has been the Bogeyman in the last few weeks, so what has gotten in our way?
- 🔮O for Omen: What omens have you seen, good or bad?
- 👘O for Outfit: Which team member wore the prettiest Halloween costume and stood out positively in the last sprint?
-
Catch-all question (Recommended)
So that other topics also have a place:
- What else would you like to talk about in the retro?
-
Prioritization / Voting (5 minutes)
On the retro board in Echometer, you can easily prioritize the feedback with voting. The voting is of course anonymous.
-
Define actions (10-20 minutes)
You can create a linked action via the plus symbol on a feedback. Not sure which measure would be the right one? Then open a whiteboard on the topic via the plus symbol instead to brainstorm root causes and possible measures.
-
Checkout / Closing (5 minutes)
Echometer enables you to collect anonymous feedback from the team on how helpful the retro was. This creates the ROTI score ("Return On Time Invested"), which you can track over time.
BOO! Retrospective
Method 4: Halloween Retrospectives
The Pumpkin Retrospective
In a Halloween retrospective, something with pumpkins can not be missing, of course! The mystery of the heaviest pumpkin in the world is not yet solved here.
Pumpkin Retrospective: How the retro works
-
Random Icebreaker (2-5 minutes)
Echometer provides you with a generator for random check-in questions.
-
Review of open actions (2-5 minutes)
Before starting with new topics, you should talk about what has become of the measures from past retrospectives to check their effectiveness. Echometer automatically lists all open action items from past retros.
-
Discuss retro topics
Use the following open questions to collect your most important findings. First, everyone does it themselves, covered. Echometer allows you to reveal each column of the retro board individually in order to then present and group the feedback.
- 📄Paper Pumpkin: What have we glued that is just holding together but could break at any moment?
- 🏡Garden Pumpkin: What have we carved that is relatively stable but can still be improved?
- 🧱Clay Pumpkin: What have we formed that is rock solid?
-
Catch-all question (Recommended)
So that other topics also have a place:
- What else would you like to talk about in the retro?
-
Prioritization / Voting (5 minutes)
On the retro board in Echometer, you can easily prioritize the feedback with voting. The voting is of course anonymous.
-
Define actions (10-20 minutes)
You can create a linked action via the plus symbol on a feedback. Not sure which measure would be the right one? Then open a whiteboard on the topic via the plus symbol instead to brainstorm root causes and possible measures.
-
Checkout / Closing (5 minutes)
Echometer enables you to collect anonymous feedback from the team on how helpful the retro was. This creates the ROTI score ("Return On Time Invested"), which you can track over time.
Pumpkin Retrospective
Method 5: Halloween Retrospectives
Spooky Traditions Retrospective
Have you ever wondered why you do some things in your team the way you do and never found the right moment to address it? Then now is the right time to make up for it in this Halloween retrospective idea!
Spooky Traditions Retrospective: How the retro works
-
Random Icebreaker (2-5 minutes)
Echometer provides you with a generator for random check-in questions.
-
Review of open actions (2-5 minutes)
Before starting with new topics, you should talk about what has become of the measures from past retrospectives to check their effectiveness. Echometer automatically lists all open action items from past retros.
-
Discuss retro topics
Use the following open questions to collect your most important findings. First, everyone does it themselves, covered. Echometer allows you to reveal each column of the retro board individually in order to then present and group the feedback.
- 🎁Treat: What nice traditions should we keep?
- ✝️Trick: What spooky, unhelpful traditions should we say goodbye to?
- 🍭Candy: What traditions could we introduce?
-
Catch-all question (Recommended)
So that other topics also have a place:
- What else would you like to talk about in the retro?
-
Prioritization / Voting (5 minutes)
On the retro board in Echometer, you can easily prioritize the feedback with voting. The voting is of course anonymous.
-
Define actions (10-20 minutes)
You can create a linked action via the plus symbol on a feedback. Not sure which measure would be the right one? Then open a whiteboard on the topic via the plus symbol instead to brainstorm root causes and possible measures.
-
Checkout / Closing (5 minutes)
Echometer enables you to collect anonymous feedback from the team on how helpful the retro was. This creates the ROTI score ("Return On Time Invested"), which you can track over time.
Spooky Traditions Retrospective
If you don’t feel any anticipation for your Halloween retrospective yet, it’s really hard to crack. But we still have two last attempts up our sleeves.
A few zombies for Halloween
For example, how about a zombie-style Scrum Health Check? These health statements work just like the usual health check items and can make your Halloween retrospective perfect vervollständigen🧟♂️
Method 6: Halloween Retrospectives
Zombie Scrum Health Check
Zombie Scrum Health Check: How the retro works
-
Random Icebreaker (2-5 minutes)
Echometer provides you with a generator for random check-in questions.
-
Review of open actions (2-5 minutes)
Before starting with new topics, you should talk about what has become of the measures from past retrospectives to check their effectiveness. Echometer automatically lists all open action items from past retros.
-
Discuss retro topics
Use the following open questions to collect your most important findings. First, everyone does it themselves, covered. Echometer allows you to reveal each column of the retro board individually in order to then present and group the feedback.
- 💚Our work results have a great impact.
- 💃🏻Our meetings are cheerful and engaging.
- 🏃🏼♂️Our topics move fast.
-
Catch-all question (Recommended)
So that other topics also have a place:
- What else would you like to talk about in the retro?
-
Prioritization / Voting (5 minutes)
On the retro board in Echometer, you can easily prioritize the feedback with voting. The voting is of course anonymous.
-
Define actions (10-20 minutes)
You can create a linked action via the plus symbol on a feedback. Not sure which measure would be the right one? Then open a whiteboard on the topic via the plus symbol instead to brainstorm root causes and possible measures.
-
Checkout / Closing (5 minutes)
Echometer enables you to collect anonymous feedback from the team on how helpful the retro was. This creates the ROTI score ("Return On Time Invested"), which you can track over time.
Zombie Scrum Health Check
Method 7: Halloween Retrospectives
”Shoot the zombie” game
Or can our “Shoot-the-Zombie” game convince you? It’s a transformation of our well-known “Shoot-the-Balloon” game🎯
Bonus retro game in Echometer
Duration: 1-5 minutes | Goal: Fun at the end of the retro
The basic idea: We have built a small bonus game into our Echometer Retro Tool: Do you know the game "Moorhuhn Jagd"? Our game works on the same principle, but with hot air balloons - or with zombies on Halloween: Who in the team hits the most?
Detailed facilitation instructions
The screenshot above gives a small insight into how the game works.
At the end of the retrospective from Echometer there is always a closing screen. On the one hand, it asks how well the time was invested in the retro (ROTI, Return on Time Invest, see screenshot). On the other hand, a small balloon also flies along the horizon in the background. What you need to know: As soon as any team member who is in the Remote Retro Online clicks or shoots down the balloon, a game is activated.
- Now every team member sees balloons flying back and forth at different speeds in the background of the retro closing screen. The goal is to hit as many of them as possible.
- We recommend that as a moderator you set a timer of 1 to 2 minutes as soon as the team starts.
- The winner can be identified by the counter in the top left corner. The three people with the most hits are visible there. People with fewer points are not currently visible.
The aim of the game is simply to look forward to these little games at the end of the retro. On the other hand, the aim is of course to leave the retro with a laugh.
By the way: You don't have to actively promote the game, of course. You can also just wait until one of the team members accidentally clicks on the balloon and the game starts.
Halloween Retrospectives - Conclusion⚡
So, are you ready for your Halloween retrospective? Well prepared you would be now in any case!😉
If our Halloween retrospective ideas aren’t enough for you, check out this blog post: 54 Fun Retrospective ideas. There are 54 more ideas for retrospectives and therefore a lot of inspiration for your next retro.
Thanks to Echometer, you can create varied and creative retros in no time and be ready for the next retrospective at any time✨
🎃Finally, for all pumpkin fans there is now the weight of the heaviest pumpkin in the world: This specimen weighed 2.703 pounds and was therefore as heavy as a small car!
Want to start your first classic Halloween retrospective right away? Then try our Echometer tool for continuous improvement of agile teams:
Halloween Retrospective: How the retro works
-
Random Icebreaker (2-5 minutes)
Echometer provides you with a generator for random check-in questions.
-
Review of open actions (2-5 minutes)
Before starting with new topics, you should talk about what has become of the measures from past retrospectives to check their effectiveness. Echometer automatically lists all open action items from past retros.
-
Discuss retro topics
Use the following open questions to collect your most important findings. First, everyone does it themselves, covered. Echometer allows you to reveal each column of the retro board individually in order to then present and group the feedback.
- 😱 Horror: What was your scary moment in this sprint?
- 🍭Treats: What treats have we prepared for our stakeholders?
- 😈Tricks: What tricks (that may be played on us) do we need to watch out for?
-
Catch-all question (Recommended)
So that other topics also have a place:
- What else would you like to talk about in the retro?
-
Prioritization / Voting (5 minutes)
On the retro board in Echometer, you can easily prioritize the feedback with voting. The voting is of course anonymous.
-
Define actions (10-20 minutes)
You can create a linked action via the plus symbol on a feedback. Not sure which measure would be the right one? Then open a whiteboard on the topic via the plus symbol instead to brainstorm root causes and possible measures.
-
Checkout / Closing (5 minutes)
Echometer enables you to collect anonymous feedback from the team on how helpful the retro was. This creates the ROTI score ("Return On Time Invested"), which you can track over time.
Halloween Retrospective
"Many team members are afraid to speak up!"
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"We discover too many unexpected issues & bugs at a late stage!"
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"Why does it sometimes take me hours to prepare a simple retrospective?"
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