KALM – Keep, Add, Less, More

KALM is an agile retrospective method that allows teams to evaluate what to keep, add, do less of, or do more of. This nuanced approach encourages collective reflection on continuous improvement without requiring radical changes. It helps teams adjust their practices in a balanced way and identify priority actions for the next cycle.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction

   5 min

   The facilitator begins by welcoming the participants and briefly explains the purpose of the workshop. They say: "Today, we will use the KALM method to reflect on our way of working. We will identify what we need to keep, add, do less of, or do more of." This introduction helps to align everyone.

   Tip — Use a concrete example from the team's experience to illustrate each category.

2. 2

   Individual Brainstorming

   10 min

   Each participant takes a few minutes to reflect individually and jot down ideas for each category: Keep, Add, Less, More. The facilitator provides them with post-its and pens. "Take the time to think about our last iteration and write down your ideas for each category." This step encourages personal reflection before group discussion.

   Tip — Encourage participants to be honest and specific in their reflections.

3. 3

   Group Sharing

   20 min

   Participants share their ideas with the group. The facilitator invites each person to come and stick their post-its on a board divided into four sections corresponding to Keep, Add, Less, More. "Come and stick your ideas and explain them briefly." This step opens up the discussion and visualises different viewpoints.

   Tip — Ensure that each participant has the opportunity to express themselves to prevent some voices from dominating the discussion.

4. 4

   Discussion and Prioritisation

   15 min

   The facilitator guides a discussion to clarify and debate the shared ideas. They ask questions to deepen the understanding of each point. "Why is this important? How will this help us?" Then, the group prioritises the actions to be taken. This step aims to transform ideas into concrete actions.

   Tip — Use point voting to help the group prioritise the ideas.

5. 5

   Action Plan

   10 min

   The group decides on specific actions to take for the next period. The facilitator helps to formulate SMART actions (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound). "For each prioritised idea, let's define who does what and when." This step transforms discussions into concrete commitments.

   Tip — Ensure that each action has an owner and a deadline.

6. 6

   Closure

   5 min

   The facilitator concludes the session by thanking the participants for their contributions and summarising the agreed actions. "Thank you all for your active participation. We now have a clear action plan to move forward." This closing reinforces the team's commitment and motivation.

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

Variants

• Use different colours of post-its for each category to facilitate visualisation.
• Add a step for anonymous feedback before the group discussion to encourage honesty.
• Integrate a follow-up on the actions from the previous retrospective to assess progress made.