Hot Air Balloon (Retrospective)

The 'Hot Air Balloon' game uses the metaphor of a hot air balloon to help the team identify what propels them towards success and what holds them back. By visualising strengths as hot air and obstacles as sandbags, participants can reflect on concrete solutions to move forward. This game promotes continuous improvement and team problem-solving.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction

   5 min

   The facilitator begins by explaining the hot air balloon metaphor. They clarify that the objective is to identify what moves the team forward (hot air) and what slows it down (sandbags). They invite participants to reflect on these elements during the activity.

   Tip — Use an image of a hot air balloon to help participants visualise the metaphor.

2. 2

   Individual Brainstorming

   10 min

   Each participant takes a few minutes to reflect individually and note on post-its what they consider to be strengths (hot air) and obstacles (sandbags) for the team. Encourage them to be honest and specific.

   Tip — Suggest that participants write one idea per post-it to facilitate later organisation.

3. 3

   Group Sharing

   15 min

   Participants gather around a whiteboard or large paper. Each shares their ideas and sticks them on the board, categorising them into two groups: hot air and sandbags. The facilitator facilitates the discussion to clarify points and ensure everyone is heard.

   Tip — Encourage participants to ask questions to better understand others' perspectives.

4. 4

   Prioritisation of Elements

   10 min

   The facilitator guides the group to prioritise the identified elements. They can use a show of hands or stickers to select the strengths to reinforce and the obstacles to address as a priority.

   Tip — Limit the number of votes per person to force the group to focus on the most impactful elements.

5. 5

   Action Plan

   15 min

   For each prioritised obstacle, the team discusses concrete actions to overcome it. For strengths, identify how to reinforce or replicate them. The facilitator ensures that each action has an owner and a deadline.

   Tip — Use a Kanban board to track the agreed actions and their progress.

6. 6

   Closure

   5 min

   The facilitator thanks the participants for their involvement and commitment. They remind the team of the next steps and encourage them to follow through on the agreed actions. They may also ask for quick feedback on the workshop to improve it.

   Tip — Ask participants to share a word that summarises their feelings at the end of the workshop.

Variants

• Use drawings instead of post-its to express strengths and obstacles.
• Add a reflection phase on what could be a headwind (external factors).
• Integrate visual feedback such as graphs to show the evolution of strengths and obstacles over time.