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Mad
Sad
Glad
About this template
Mad/Sad/Glad is an emotion-first retrospective that gives team members explicit permission to share how they feel. By naming emotions directly, this format surfaces frustrations and celebrations that often go unspoken in traditional retros. It is one of the best formats for building team trust.
Best for
- Teams experiencing tension or low morale
- After difficult sprints or missed deadlines
- Building psychological safety in new teams
- When you suspect people are holding back
Teams
EngineeringProductDesignSupportAny team needing a morale check
How to run it
Remind the team that all emotions are valid. Give 5-7 minutes for silent card creation. Start discussing Glad to build positive momentum, then move to Sad and Mad. Focus on understanding, not blame. End by identifying patterns and choosing 1-2 things to improve.
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