Recently, during our immersive Agile and Scrum workshop, I delved into a thought-provoking discussion with the participants. We were exploring the various Scrum ceremonies when I posed a question that sparked quite the conversation.
I asked, "If you were to choose just one Scrum event, what would it be?"
The responses were fascinating and shed light on the essence of effective teamwork.
One participant said "Sprint Planning," highlighting the importance of a well-laid plan for a smooth Sprint journey.
Another voiced "Backlog Refinement," emphasizing the importance of a clear roadmap.
Then came "Daily Scrum," as a forum to resolve all issues and move forward as a team
I was taken aback. Why had no one mentioned Sprint Retrospectives?
Perhaps, this very scenario points to the underestimated value of retrospectives?
And then, it was my turn to share.
With conviction, I stated that if I were to choose just one thing, it would be the retrospectives.
Why? Because the power of retrospectives is profound.
In my view, a team should never let go of retrospectives.
Even if this is the only ceremony a team does but does it well, it has the potential to create a ripple effect of positive change.
Maybe the team will want to start some planning and work to continuously make it effective.
In that process, they will figure out that backlog refinement can make the Sprint Planning better and so on .... Do you see what I am saying?
Remember:
"The key to agility is continuous improvement.
The key to continuous improvement is retrospection.
And at the heart of retrospection lies people and interactions."
Retrospectives guide us like a compass towards excellence, fostering collaboration, and nurturing a culture of perpetual enhancement.