Retrospective Activity

Mad, Sad, Glad

Standard Hard   Popularity: 8  

This activity:

  • Good for teams working together for some time
  • Focus on team morale

Introduction

This activity focus is on team member feelings with the purpose of creating a more positive team environment. Members are requested to share things that made them feel mad, sad, or glad during the period of reflection. When explaining this activity communicate the need for keeping notes abstract and not personal.

Mad
Sad
Glad

For the specific activity, the facilitator could use these points to describe the process:

  • The Mad column is for actions and processes that have made a team member feel crazy.
  • The Sad column is for actions and processes that made a team member feel disappointed.
  • The Glad column is for actions and processes that a team member enjoyed while doing so, or feeling the positive impact they had.

See how a retrospective works in Team O'clock

Tips & Tricks

Keep the team's focus on the actions and processes that created these feelings. It is important to maintain the discussion at a team level and not make it personal.

Try to talk equally for all three areas and avoid focus on the negative Mad and Sad. This way the team can acknowledge the work already done.

Popularity: 8

The "Mad, Sad, Glad" activity is popular among Team O'clock teams. It seems that many teams trust this activity for their retrospectives.

Recap

Mad, Sad, Glad

Standard Hard

Mad

Things that are driving you crazy

Sad

Things that have disappointed you

Glad

Things that you enjoyed and feel happy about

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