Shape-Up Super Short: 45 minute plans which support the "Shape Up methodology"

Below is your Shape Up retrospective plan formatted for MediaWiki 1.35.1, using standard MediaWiki table syntax. You can copy and paste this directly into a wiki page:

Step	Purpose / Intended Outcome	Step Activities	Facilitator Notes	Timebox
1. Welcome & Framing	Create psychological safety and align on purpose.	Greet the team. Explain the goal: reflect on what was shaped, what was built, and what was learned. Emphasize that it’s about improving the next cycle, not relitigating the last.	Set a relaxed but focused tone. Optionally share a quick “win” from the cycle to start on a positive note.	5 min
2. Shape Up Hot Takes + Reflection: Built / Shipped / Learned	Prompt honest and direct observations about the cycle. Encourage clarity and critical thinking aligned with Shape Up’s concepts.	Introduce the idea of Hot Takes: short, bold statements that provoke discussion. Example: “This pitch was half-baked.” Example: “We shipped polish, not value.” Example: “We learned we need to slow down shaping.” Invite each person to write 1–2 Hot Takes (anonymously or openly). Then move into individual reflection: 2–3 notes per category: Built, Shipped, Learned.	Hot Takes help bypass surface-level feedback. Encourage candor without assigning blame. If the group is shy, allow private writing and read aloud anonymously.	10 min
3. Round-Robin Sharing	Hear all reflections; surface overlap and divergence.	Each person shares their “Built / Shipped / Learned” notes and optionally 1 Hot Take. Others listen silently. Facilitator loosely clusters themes (e.g., unclear shaping, scope creep).	Timebox each person (~2 mins). Encourage elaboration if vague. Capture visible patterns for the next step.	10 min
4. Discussion of Patterns & Surprises	Identify what stood out and why. Decide what deserves further investigation.	Facilitator summarizes repeated notes or surprising Hot Takes. Ask: “What slowed us down?” “Did this bet stay within boundaries?” “Where was shaping weakest?” Focus discussion on system-level levers, not personal issues.	Keep team grounded in Shape Up concepts (e.g., circuit breakers, appetites, hill charts). Challenge vague feedback by asking for examples.	10 min
5. Action Identification	Translate insights into 1–2 next-cycle improvements.	Ask: “What’s one process we’d change if we started a cycle tomorrow?” Brainstorm 3–4 candidates. Agree on top 1–2 next steps. Assign ownership or follow-up.	Look for actions that reinforce Shape Up discipline (e.g., improve pitch clarity, tighten scopes early). Favor high-confidence, small changes.	7 min
6. Closing	Summarize the session, leave on a reflective note.	Recap: Themes from Hot Takes + reflection. Agreed actions. Invite each person to share 1 word on how they feel going into the next cycle.	Affirm team growth and openness. Thank everyone for leaning in, especially on tough feedback.	3 min

🔥 What are “Shape Up Hot Takes”?

Definition: Shape Up Hot Takes are bold, gut-level observations designed to cut through polite retros and surface sharp insights.

Purpose: They create a moment of candor, essential in Shape Up teams where autonomy and boundaries matter.

Examples:

• “We shaped for engineering constraints, not customer value.”
• “We said ‘fixed time, variable scope,’ but scope never shrank.”
• “This felt like a side quest, not a bet.”

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