“What went well, what went badly?” – These standard questions in retrospectives and Lessons Learned sessions now feel like routine exercises without real output. And simply rephrasing or rebranding them doesn’t help either.
In an agile environment that focuses on value creation rather than empty rituals, more is needed.
Our experience at STAGILE® clearly shows:
→ Generic reflection sessions rarely lead to relevant, actionable insights.
→ Discussions often stall, with positive and negative points being pulled out of thin air.
🔄 Important: Lessons Learned ≠ Retrospective!
Within the STAGILE® Framework, we make a clear distinction:
→ Sprint retrospectives (in our Sprint Collector) – short, regular, and with a clear sprint focus.
→ Lessons Learned – event-driven and deliberately more in-depth, e.g., quarterly after project phases, with specific, well-prepared questions that foster real insights.
🎯 What does this require?
→ Context-driven, well-prepared questions that capture real project moments.
→ Active listening throughout the project to identify relevant topics early on.
→ Thorough preparation to generate Lessons Learned with substance – rather than just a retrospective look back.
And of course: Room for open discussions – but consciously guided and contextually relevant.
🚀 The real game-changer lies in implementation:
→ At STAGILE®, Lessons Learned don’t disappear into a digital archive – they go directly into our Sprint Contract. Concrete. Visible. Binding.
→ During Sprint planning, we ensure that insights translate into concrete actions – because only through practical implementation does real, sustainable value emerge.
💡 Conclusion:
Lessons Learned must not become a mere formality. They need to be precisely prepared, contextually moderated, and consistently implemented – otherwise, they remain well-intended but ineffective.
Martin Reischmann | STAGILE® Coach
