Mad, Sad, Glad Retrospective Template

The Mad, Sad, Glad retrospective treats emotion as data. Instead of asking only what happened, it asks how the work felt: what made people mad, what made them sad, and what made them glad. Those feelings are early signals of friction and engagement that a metrics-only review will miss, which is why the Mad, Sad, Glad template is a favorite for teams that care about morale alongside delivery.

When to use it

Use this format after an intense sprint, a stressful release, or any cycle where tension or fatigue is in the air. It is especially valuable when you sense unspoken frustration and want a safe structure that gives people permission to name how they feel.

Who attends

The delivery team and a facilitator, roughly four to ten people. Psychological safety matters here, so keep managers in listening mode and make it clear that nothing shared will be held against anyone.

How to run it

Open by setting a safe, judgment-free tone. Move through Mad, Sad, and Glad in turn, giving people quiet time to write before sharing. The goal is not to vent and stop, but to look underneath each emotion for its cause. Cluster the notes, find the patterns, and vote on what to act on. End "Glad" on a genuine high, then convert the strongest signals into owned actions with due dates.

Facilitator tips

• Open with explicit safety: feelings are valid and will not be used against anyone.
• Always dig from the emotion to its underlying cause before deciding actions.
• End on "Glad" so the team leaves with energy, not just grievances.
• Watch for one person dominating; protect quieter voices.

Common mistakes

• Letting the retro become a venting session with no path to action.
• Dismissing emotions instead of treating them as real signals.
• Skipping the "why" and acting on surface complaints.
• Leaving the chosen actions without owners or dates.

Want emotion to lead to real change? Run it in OrgTP to capture the signals, assign owners, and follow actions into your next meeting.