KALM Retrospective

Keep KALM (Keep, Add, Less, More) and carry on!

So... What's the KALM retrospective all about?

The KALM retrospective is a simple activity designed to facilitate team reflection and continuous improvement. It serves as a valuable tool for teams to collectively assess their work processes, learn from past experiences, and collaboratively shape a more effective and cohesive future.

Comprising four core elements, KALM stands for Keep, Add, Less, and More.

In the "Keep" phase, teams identify and commit to maintaining proven effective practices.

e.g., Maintain effective team communication and regular updates; Continue weekly progress meetings for team alignment and productivity.

The "Add" phase encourages introducing new practices to enhance team dynamics and performance.

e.g., Introduce a knowledge-sharing session; Implement a brief daily stand-up for improved team coordination.

Conversely, in the "Less" phase, teams pinpoint activities or behaviors that should be reduced, like unproductive meetings or distractions during discussions.

e.g., Reduce the duration or frequency of unproductive meetings; Discourage multitasking during discussions to enhance focus.

Finally, the "More" phase promotes the amplification of positive aspects, such as fostering cross-functional collaboration and celebrating small victories to nurture a culture of continuous improvement.

e.g., Foster cross-functional collaboration for diverse perspectives; Celebrate small victories regularly to boost team morale.

When should you use the KALM retrospective template?

The KALM retrospective is best used at project or sprint conclusions, milestone achievements, periodic reviews, after challenging phases, and during team transitions.

It provides a structured approach for teams to reflect, celebrate successes, identify improvements, and optimize collaborative processes at key moments in their project timeline.