Circles & Soup

Circles & Soup is an agile retrospective tool that helps teams categorise issues into three categories: direct control, indirect influence, and out of reach. This game refocuses discussions on concrete actions and promotes proactive leadership. By visualising the circles of control, participants can better understand where to concentrate their efforts for maximum impact.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction

   10 min

   The facilitator presents the concept of circles of control, influence, and concern. They explain that each circle represents a level of mastery over the issues faced by the team. 'Today, we will explore what we have direct control over, what we can influence, and what is out of our reach.'

   Tip — Use a visual diagram of the circles to clarify the concept from the outset.

2. 2

   Collecting Topics

   15 min

   Ask participants to reflect individually on recent problems or challenges. Each person writes their ideas on post-its. Encourage them to think of specific situations rather than generalities. 'Think about what has hindered your work recently.'

   Tip — Encourage writing one idea per post-it to facilitate later sorting.

3. 3

   Classifying Topics

   20 min

   On a large board or sheet, draw three concentric circles. Invite participants to place their post-its in the corresponding circle: at the centre for direct control, in the middle for indirect influence, and outside for what is out of reach. 'Discuss in small groups to decide where to place each topic.'

   Tip — Help groups clarify their doubts by asking open-ended questions about each topic.

4. 4

   Discussion and Prioritisation

   15 min

   Once the topics are classified, discuss as a group the items placed in the direct control circle. Identify possible concrete actions. 'What can we do right now to address these issues?' Prioritise actions based on their potential impact.

   Tip — Facilitate the discussion by ensuring every voice is heard.

5. 5

   Action Planning

   15 min

   For each prioritised action, define concrete steps and assign responsibilities. 'Who can take charge of this action? When can we expect to see results?' Record this information for future follow-up.

   Tip — Use an action tracking board to keep a visible record of responsibilities.

6. 6

   Closure

   5 min

   Conclude the session by thanking participants for their engagement. Remind them of the importance of focusing on what is under control to maximise effectiveness. 'By concentrating on what we can control, we take concrete steps forward.'

   Tip — End on a positive note by highlighting the progress made.

Variants

• Use different colours for the post-its to distinguish types of problems (technical, organisational, etc.).
• Conduct the exercise in two stages: first individually, then as a group to encourage everyone's engagement.
• Introduce a fourth circle for items to monitor, but not yet concerning.