A focused two-column retro format — What Went Well and Needs Better — that balances celebration with honest improvement in the shortest possible time.
Drag example cards between columns or try voting to explore the format.
Wins, achievements, and positive surprises from the sprint. Celebrate what worked.
Shipped the onboarding redesign on schedule
New team member is ramping up fast
Deployments are now fully automated
Zero production incidents this sprint
Processes, communication, or outcomes that could improve. Frame as opportunities.
Requirements handoff from product needs better documentation
Code review turnaround — PRs sitting for 2+ days
Test coverage on the new payment flow
Use these prompts and example cards to start a focused conversation.
Wins, achievements, and positive surprises from the sprint. Celebrate what worked.
Example cards
Keep in mind: Don't be modest — this column is for genuine celebration
Processes, communication, or outcomes that could improve. Frame as opportunities.
Example cards
Keep in mind: Don't blame individuals — focus on processes
WWW & WNB takes about 10–15 min. Here's the flow.
Remind the team to focus on WWW first. WNB is about processes, not people.
Team adds cards to both columns. Aim for 3 WWW and 2 WNB minimum.
Vote on the most important items in each column. Focus on what the team can control.
Discuss top items and assign 1-2 action items. Keep it tight.
Summarize actions and thank the team. This format is about momentum, not depth.
The What Went Well / Needs Better retrospective (abbreviated as WWW & WNB) is the most efficient Agile retrospective format in common use. Two columns. Two questions. Maximum signal in minimum time.
This format originated from the Lean management tradition of "start with what works." Instead of asking a team to list problems (which can feel demoralizing), WWW & WNB frames improvement as a balanced conversation. The What Went Well column creates genuine space for celebration and positive reinforcement. The Needs Better column frames problems as opportunities — a subtle but important reframing that keeps the retro constructive.
The psychological advantage of WWW & WNB is its asymmetry. Starting with "What Went Well" primes the team for a positive, appreciative mindset before they're asked to identify areas for improvement. This sequencing has been shown in organizational psychology research to improve both the quality and honesty of constructive feedback — teams who feel appreciated are more willing to surface real problems.
If you like WWW & WNB, you might also enjoy these formats.
Let the group choose the agenda. Collect topics, vote on what matters, and move cards from To Discuss through Discussing to Discussed.
A classic three-column retro format that helps teams identify new practices to adopt, unhelpful habits to drop, and winning behaviors to reinforce.
An intuitive traffic-light retro format — Red for blockers, Yellow for caution, Green for smooth sailing — that makes team health instantly visible at a glance.
A four-column continuous improvement format — Drop, Add, Keep, Improve — that combines Start/Stop/Continue simplicity with actionable improvement granularity.
WWW & WNB stands for What Went Well / Needs Better. It's a simple two-column retrospective format that balances positive reinforcement with constructive improvement.
10-15 minutes is ideal — it's designed to be the fastest meaningful retro format available.
Yes — it's perfect for weekly check-ins. Reserve deeper formats like 4Ls or Sailboat for monthly or quarterly sessions.
That's a signal. If WNB cards consistently outnumber WWW cards across sprints, the team may be heading for burnout. Consider switching to a more supportive format.
Yes — its simplicity makes it perfect for async and remote formats. Team members in different time zones can contribute in minutes.
Yes — LetRetro includes a dedicated WWW & WNB template with anonymous voting, AI summaries, and automatic action item tracking.
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