Start, Stop, Continue

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Categorize actionable team feedback and behavioral changes into what to begin, cease, or maintain.

Use it when: Use at a retrospective, project debrief, or planning session to sort operational feedback into distinct behavioral actions.

Skip it when: Skip when evaluating complex numerical data or when participants lack shared context on the work being reviewed.

Group arrangement: Individual writing followed by pairs or triads (or tables of 3 to 5 if using larger tables; odd numbers form a trio), then whole-room review.

Timing: Gamestorming lists 10 to 60 minutes. 25 minutes allows silent writing, small-group sanity check, posting, and group synthesis for up to 24 participants.

Materials and tools

• 1 sticky note pad per participant
• 1 black felt pen per participant
• Wall space or flip chart paper divided into three columns labeled Start, Stop, and Continue
• Low-tack blue tape if using loose flip chart sheets

Before participants arrive

1. Draw three wide vertical columns on a visible wall or whiteboard labeled Start, Stop, and Continue.
2. Distribute one pad of sticky notes and a pen to each participant.

Say this to open

Today we are reviewing our recent work through three simple filters: Start, Stop, and Continue. For the next five minutes, write down your thoughts on separate sticky notes. Write what we need to begin doing that we currently do not do, what is not working and should be ended, and what is working well and should be maintained.

How to run it

1. Introduce prompts and write individually 5 minutes

   Read the opening script. Direct everyone to write silently on sticky notes, one distinct idea per note. Encourage at least one contribution per category. Participants who prefer to reflect privately may choose which notes to keep private and which to post.

2. Small group review and posting 6 minutes

   Ask participants to form pairs or triads. If numbers are uneven, form a trio rather than leaving anyone alone. Have them briefly read their notes aloud to check for clarity. Once read, participants walk up and post their chosen notes under Start, Stop, or Continue.

3. Cluster and review themes 9 minutes

   Invite two volunteers to help group duplicate or related notes into themes within each column. Read aloud the major clusters across Stop, Start, and Continue. Give everyone 2 minutes to scan the board silently. Add verbal notes if anyone held back sticky notes.

4. Debrief and select next steps 5 minutes

   Conduct a brief whole-room debrief. Ask 2 to 3 participants to highlight an immediate operational change from the Stop or Start columns that can be implemented right away without external approval.

Debrief questions

• Looking at the Stop column, what is one practice we can cease immediately without needing leadership approval?
• Which item under Continue is most vital for keeping our team effective?
• What Start item has the clearest path to ownership this week?

Finished output: A categorized three-column wall chart displaying posted and scribed actions to start, stop, and continue, grouped by theme.

Remote

Create an online whiteboard with three labeled columns: Start, Stop, Continue. Give participants 5 minutes of silent writing directly onto digital sticky notes kept in a private scratch area. Use breakout rooms of 3 to 4 people for 6 minutes to compare notes. Then have participants move their notes into the shared columns before bringing everyone back to the main room to cluster notes and run the debrief.

Hybrid

Provide an online board accessible to all. Have in-person participants type directly into the board on personal devices or assign a designated in-person scribe who transcribes physical sticky notes into the digital board during the small-group review step. Project the digital board in the physical room so all attendees view identical clusters in real time.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may dictate sticky notes to a partner, scribe, or facilitator instead of writing.
• Posting physical notes is optional. Participants may keep notes private, observe the board, or ask a scribe to add an anonymous verbal suggestion during clustering.

If the session gets stuck

Participants write broad complaints like 'poor communication' rather than actionable behaviors.

Provide a neutral example: change 'bad communication' to 'Stop canceling weekly standup on short notice' or 'Start posting daily blockers in Slack by 10 AM'.

The Stop column dominates the board, creating defensiveness among team members.

Remind the group that every Stop item is an opportunity to free up time. Direct attention to the Continue column to ground the room in existing successful habits.