Plus / Delta

Plus / Delta is a short feedback format that can be used at the end of a meeting, training day, or workshop. The group identifies what worked well and should be retained, and what should be changed next time. Delta, the Greek letter for change, encourages the formulation of improvement proposals rather than criticisms. The game facilitates a simple, constructive retrospective that is directly action-oriented.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Set the framework and the two columns

   2 min

   The facilitator prepares a visible support with two columns: 'Plus' and 'Delta'. They explain: 'Plus is what worked well and we want to keep. Delta is what we would change next time, formulated as a proposal for improvement.' Participants listen without reacting yet. This clarification prevents Delta from becoming a column of complaints.

   Tip — Explicitly write 'Delta = proposal for improvement' under the column title: this naturally reframes negative formulations.

2. 2

   Give the instruction for individual writing

   2 min

   The facilitator distributes or points out the post-its, then gives a simple instruction: 'Write your ideas, one idea per post-it, in one of the two columns. In Plus, write what you want to keep. In Delta, write what you propose to change next time.' Everyone reflects in silence and writes their contributions. The silence allows minority opinions to emerge before group influence.

   Tip — Really ask for one idea per post-it: grouping will be much easier and the actions to choose will be clearer.

3. 3

   Collect the Plus

   3 min

   The facilitator invites participants to share their 'Plus' post-its. They might say: 'Read your post-it in one sentence, then place it in the Plus column.' Participants name what worked well and what the group wants to keep. The facilitator welcomes contributions without lengthy comments, in order to maintain the express pace of the format.

   Tip — Start with the Plus: this creates a constructive dynamic and makes the Deltas easier to hear.

4. 4

   Collect the Deltas as proposals

   3 min

   The facilitator moves to the Delta column and reminds the rule: 'Here, we formulate what we would change next time, in the form of a proposal.' Participants read their post-its and place them in the column. If a raw criticism appears, the facilitator reframes it with the group: 'What concrete improvement does this suggest?' This step transforms irritants into useful suggestions.

   Tip — Keep a standard phrasing handy: 'Next time, we could...'. It helps participants convert a criticism into action.

5. 5

   Group similar ideas

   3 min

   The facilitator observes the post-its with the group and suggests bringing together those that address the same topic. They ask: 'Do these two ideas go together? Does anyone see another obvious grouping?' Participants help to form a few readable clusters, without trying to debate every nuance. The goal is to highlight the main themes, not to produce an exhaustive analysis.

   Tip — Don't seek perfect categories: accept approximate groupings if everyone understands the theme.

6. 6

   Choose one or two actions

   4 min

   The facilitator refocuses the group on the decision: 'Among these Deltas, let's choose one or two actions that we really want to test next time.' Participants briefly discuss what would have the most impact or be the easiest to implement. The facilitator clearly notes the chosen action, with a concrete formulation aimed at the next occurrence. This step transforms feedback into observable commitment.

   Tip — Deliberately limit to one or two actions: it's better to have one improvement applied than a long forgotten list.

7. 7

   Close and anchor the next steps

   2 min

   The facilitator reads the main Plus and the chosen actions from Delta. They conclude: 'We will keep these strengths, and next time we will test these improvements.' Participants confirm that they recognise the summary. The closure adds value to the contributions and shows that the feedback will be concretely useful.

   Tip — Take a photo of the board or export the support at the end: this is the minimal trace to verify next time if the action has been carried out.

Variants

• Very short version: each participant gives one Plus and one Delta, then the group immediately chooses an action. Useful when there is little time left at the end of a meeting.
• In-depth version: after grouping, ask the group to rephrase each Delta cluster in a sentence starting with 'Next time, we could...'. This improves the quality of the chosen actions.
• Remote version: use a collaborative board with two columns 'Plus' and 'Delta'. Participants write their digital post-its in silence, then the facilitator reads, groups, and has one or two actions chosen.
• Round-robin version: for a small group, each person reads their Plus and then their Deltas in turn. This variant encourages listening, provided contributions remain brief.