Highlights, Lowlights & Kudos Retrospective

What is this activity?

This template helps teams reflect on the past sprint or project by looking at both the good and the bad, while also making space to appreciate each other. Instead of focusing only on problems, it encourages balance: celebrating wins, spotting challenges, and recognizing people who made a difference. For example, in the Highlights column, the team might list achievements such as “we finished our release on time” or “great collaboration with design.” In Lowlights, they could capture difficulties like “deployment took too long” or “unclear priorities.” Finally, in Kudos, teammates can give thanks, like “thanks to Ana for jumping in to help with testing.” This technique works well for teams that want a simple, structured, and positive retrospective.

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Template created by: EasyRetro Team - Has been used 6 times

Highlights, Lowlights & Kudos Template

🌟 Highlights

What went well this sprint? Celebrate wins, big or small.

🌑 Lowlights

What didn’t go so well? Share challenges or pain points we should improve.

🙌 Kudos

Give thanks! Recognize teammates for their support, effort, or great work.

How to conduct this activity

Start by setting the stage and reminding everyone that this is a safe space to share openly. Ask participants to add cards in the three columns: Highlights, Lowlights & Kudos. After everyone has written their thoughts, the facilitator can group similar items together. Then, guide the team through a discussion: first celebrate the highlights, then explore the lowlights to find patterns and possible improvements, and finally share kudos to end on a positive note. To keep things clear and productive, make sure all voices are heard, limit long debates, and write down concrete action items based on the lowlights. Closing with kudos helps boost morale and ensures the meeting ends with good energy.

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