The most widely used sprint retrospective format. Simple enough for any team, structured enough to produce real action items.
Run a free retroNo account required. Anonymous cards. Password-protected rooms.
Start / Stop / Continue is a retrospective format that organizes team feedback into three categories: what the team should start doing, what it should stop doing, and what is working well and should continue. It is one of the most popular retrospective formats because it is immediately actionable - every category implies a clear next step.
Unlike formats that focus on feelings or abstract themes, Start / Stop / Continue stays focused on behaviors and practices. That makes it easier to turn retrospective outcomes into concrete commitments for the next sprint.
Practices, habits, or tools the team should adopt. Things that could improve quality, speed, or collaboration but are not happening yet.
Behaviors or processes that are slowing the team down, creating friction, or simply not adding value. Honest answers here matter most.
What is genuinely working. Naming it explicitly prevents good habits from fading away and gives the team something to build on.
Every card belongs to a category that implies action. No vague themes to decode after the meeting.
Cards are anonymous until the host reveals votes. Team members can be honest without social pressure.
A focused 45-minute session covers writing, voting, and discussing the top items. No facilitation certification needed.
New teams, experienced teams, co-located, fully remote - the format adapts without needing adjustments.
Start / Stop / Continue is reliable enough to use every sprint. It does not get stale because the team and context change - the format stays fresh even when the cadence does not.
When a team is still figuring out how to work together, this format gives everyone a structured way to raise concerns and suggestions without it feeling like a complaint session.
When something went wrong, Start / Stop / Continue keeps the conversation focused on practices rather than people. That distinction makes hard retrospectives productive rather than defensive.
Host creates a room with an optional password and shares the code.
Everyone joins - no account needed.
Team members add anonymous cards to any of the three columns.
When writing time is up, the host reveals all cards.
Everyone upvotes the cards that matter most. Cards sort by votes in real time.
Team discusses the top-voted items.
Action items are captured and carried into the next sprint.
Create a room, share the code, and let the team add cards. No account, no setup, no facilitation expertise needed.
Start a free Start / Stop / Continue session