Sharing to Private Channels
To share summaries to private channels, you need to invite the SprintPulse bot to those channels first.
Step 1: Find the SprintPulse app
In Slack, look for SprintPulse in the Apps section of your sidebar. If you don't see it, click Add apps and search for "SprintPulse".
Step 2: Invite to private channel
Open the private channel you want to share to, then either:
- Type
/invite @SprintPulse - Or click the channel name → Integrations → Add apps
Once invited, the private channel will appear in the channel list when sharing summaries.
What is a Retrospective?
A retrospective is a team meeting where you reflect on recent work, celebrate wins, and identify improvements. It's how great teams get better, sprint after sprint.
The basics
A retrospective (often called a "retro") is a regular meeting - typically held at the end of a sprint or project phase - where the team asks three simple questions:
What went well?
Celebrate successes and identify practices worth repeating.
What could improve?
Surface pain points and challenges without blame.
What will we try?
Commit to specific actions for the next sprint.
The format varies - some teams use "Start, Stop, Continue", others prefer "Mad, Sad, Glad" - but the goal is always the same: continuous improvement through honest reflection.
Why retrospectives matter
Continuous improvement
Small improvements compound. A team that gets 1% better each sprint is twice as effective after 70 sprints. Retrospectives create the feedback loop that makes this possible.
Team health
Retrospectives give everyone a voice. They surface frustrations before they become resentments, and help team members feel heard and valued.
Better communication
Regular retros build psychological safety. When teams practice giving and receiving feedback, communication improves across all their work.
Ownership and accountability
When the team identifies their own improvements, they own them. Top-down mandates create resistance; bottom-up insights create commitment.
Why simple tools work better
Enterprise retrospective tools are built for enterprise problems: compliance requirements, complex approval workflows, integration with a dozen other systems.
But if you're a small or medium-sized team, all that complexity gets in the way. You don't need a 50-page setup guide. You don't need a dedicated admin. You need a tool that lets you run effective retros in minutes.
Tips for effective retrospectives
Keep it regular
Weekly or bi-weekly retros are better than monthly ones. Shorter feedback loops mean faster improvement and fresher memories.
Create psychological safety
Anonymous feedback helps people speak honestly. Make it clear that retros are blame-free zones focused on systems, not individuals.
Timebox ruthlessly
30-60 minutes is enough for most teams if you run retrospectives frequently. Use a timer to keep discussions focused and prevent rabbit holes.
Commit to action
A retro without action items is just a chat. Pick 1-3 concrete improvements and assign owners. Review them at the start of the next retro.
Celebrate wins
Don't just focus on problems. Recognising what went well reinforces good practices and keeps morale high.
Ready to run better retrospectives?
SprintPulse is a simple, AI-powered retrospective tool built for teams that want results without complexity.