4L Retrospective Template
Look back on a sprint or project with four simple words: liked, learned, lacked and longed for. The 4L Retrospective puts learning and wishes at the center, not just problems.
Free to start · Swiss-made · GDPR compliant
How to use the 4L Retrospective template
The Collaboard template has four areas, each with its own color and deck of notes: purple for Liked, yellow for Learned, orange for Lacked and green for Longed for. A short question in each area helps everyone get started.
Set the scope
Agree on the period or project you're looking back on.
Write silently
Everyone takes notes from the decks and writes one thought per note in the four areas.
Share area by area
Go through Liked, Learned, Lacked and Longed for together and group similar notes.
Connect Lacked and Longed for
Look at both areas side by side. What was missing often explains what people wish for.
Vote
Use dot voting to pick the topics the team wants to work on.
Agree on actions
Turn them into concrete actions with an owner, and share what the team learned with others.
What is the 4L Retrospective?
The 4L Retrospective is a retrospective format with four categories that all start with L: Liked, Learned, Lacked and Longed for. It was described by Mary Gorman and Ellen Gottesdiener. Because it asks what people learned and what they wished for, it captures more than a list of problems.
The four areas of the template
- Liked: What went well? What the team enjoyed or appreciated. Example: the support from the design team.
- Learned: What new things have you learned? New skills, insights or discoveries. Example: how to test the new interface automatically.
- Lacked: What was missing? What the team needed but didn't have. Example: clear acceptance criteria.
- Longed for: What would you have wanted? Wishes for the future. Example: more time with real users.
If you want to document insights for future projects, the Lessons Learned template goes one step further.
When to use this template
- Project reviews Look back on a project with a focus on what the team learned.
- After training or onboarding Find out what participants liked, learned and missed.
- Sprint retrospectives A balanced alternative to formats that focus mainly on problems.
- Long-running teams Bring learning and wishes into the conversation, not just tasks.
Tips for a good session
- Take Learned seriously It's the area teams fill in least. Ask for one insight per person.
- Keep Lacked factual Name what was missing, not who failed to deliver it.
- Turn wishes into actions Longed for only helps if at least one wish becomes a concrete next step.
- Share the learnings Insights from Learned are often useful for other teams too.
Why Collaboard
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Made in Switzerland, with real support
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 4L Retrospective template free?
Yes, the 4L Retrospective template is free to use with a Collaboard account. The free plan includes up to 3 boards and five people per session.
What does 4L stand for in the 4L Retrospective?
In the 4L Retrospective, the four Ls stand for Liked, Learned, Lacked and Longed for.
Who developed the 4L Retrospective?
The 4L Retrospective was described by Mary Gorman and Ellen Gottesdiener as a way to look back on a project from four angles.
How is the 4L Retrospective different from Start Stop Continue?
Start Stop Continue focuses on actions. The 4L Retrospective puts what the team learned and wished for at the center, which helps when reflection matters more than quick changes.
Can a remote team run a 4L Retrospective?
Yes, a remote team can run a 4L Retrospective in Collaboard. Everyone adds notes to the same board in real time, wherever they are.
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