Two simulations · one meeting

The same retro, from both chairs.

A retrospective only works if the room tells the truth. That takes two things at once: someone who runs the room so truth feels safe to say, and people in the room willing to say it. This pack trains both.

The design: both simulations run the same slipped-launch retro on the same engine, seven moves each. The facilitator learns to raise the ceiling on what feels safe to say. The team member learns to fill the room right up to it. Play either first — they mirror move for move.

Running the room

A Project Manager's Guide

For the person facilitating the retro.

Set the ceiling — open so truth feels safe
Decode the hedge — treat “probably fine” as a signal
Reward the flag — thank an early risk before you know it’s real
Reframe the blame, break the silence, run the phases in order

Run the room →

In the room

A Team Member's Guide

For everyone else at the table.

Come ready — walk in prepared to tell the truth
Say the uncertain part — name it instead of smoothing it over
Back the flag — don’t leave a teammate hanging
Own your part, fill the silence, turn a complaint into an experiment

Take your seat →

Field guides

The reference the training keeps out of the practice. One per chair.

PM Field Guide

Five phases, seven facilitator moves, two cheat sheets, the trust checklist.

Open →

Team Member Field Guide

Your job in each phase, seven moves with the tell and the script, the truth checklist.

Open →