Rose, Bud, Thorn Template

About the Rose, Bud, Thorn Template

The Rose, Bud, Thorn template in Miro is a powerful tool designed to help teams reflect on their experiences and identify key insights. This structured exercise allows participants to categorize their thoughts into three distinct areas:

• Rose: Highlights the successes and what is working well.

• Bud: Focuses on potential opportunities and areas for growth.

• Thorn: Identifies challenges and what is not working well.

This template is versatile and can be used in various contexts, such as project reviews, team-building activities, and feedback sessions. It encourages open communication and helps teams to collaboratively identify areas of improvement and celebrate successes.

How to use the Rose, Bud, Thorn Template

The Rose, Bud, Thorn template is a structured method for team reflection and feedback. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use each section of the template:

Rose (Positive Aspects)

Purpose: Identify and highlight the positive aspects of a project or situation.

How to use: Ask participants to write down what went well, successes, and strengths. These could be achievements, effective strategies, or any positive outcomes.

Example: "Our marketing campaign increased user engagement by 20%."

Bud (Potential Opportunities)

Purpose: Spot potential opportunities for growth and improvement.

How to use: Encourage team members to note down ideas, opportunities, and areas that show promise but need further development.

Example: "We have the potential to expand our social media presence to new platforms."

Thorn (Challenges and Issues)

Purpose: Identify and address challenges, issues, and areas of concern.

How to use: Have participants list down problems, obstacles, and anything that didn’t go as planned.

Example: "We faced delays due to miscommunication between teams."

Action Points and Discussion

Purpose: Synthesize insights and create actionable steps.

How to use: Group similar sticky notes together to identify patterns and themes. Use theme sticky notes to name these clusters, which can help in synthesizing learnings. Throughout the exercise, keep referring back to the initial focus area to ensure discussions remain relevant and productive.

Example: "Improve communication channels between teams to avoid future delays."

Using AI Sidekicks Agile Coach for Extra Insights

To enhance the reflection process, you can leverage Miro’s AI Sidekicks Agile Coach. Here’s how:

• Generate ideas: Use the Agile Coach persona to brainstorm new ideas during the Bud section. The AI can suggest innovative approaches and potential opportunities.

• Identify key themes: During the Action Points and Discussion phase, the Agile Coach can help identify key themes from the retrospective, ensuring that no critical insights are missed.

• Suggest next steps: The Agile Coach can provide suggestions for actionable next steps based on the identified Roses, Buds, and Thorns, helping the team to move forward effectively.

Why should you use the Rose, Bud, Thorn Template?

The Rose, Bud, Thorn template is a simple yet effective tool for fostering open communication and collaborative problem-solving within teams. Here are a few reasons why it is beneficial:

• Encourages balanced feedback: By categorizing feedback into positive, negative, and potential areas, it ensures a balanced view of the situation. This structure helps teams to appreciate their successes while also addressing challenges and exploring new opportunities.

• Promotes team engagement: It involves all team members in the reflection process, making them feel heard and valued. This inclusive approach can boost morale and foster a sense of ownership and accountability among team members.

• Identifies opportunities: It helps teams recognize challenges and identify potential opportunities for growth and improvement. This forward-looking perspective can drive innovation and continuous improvement within the team.

• Facilitates structured discussions: The clear structure of the template helps in organizing thoughts and discussions, making the feedback process more efficient. This can lead to more productive meetings and actionable insights.

• Adaptable: The Rose, Bud, Thorn template can be used in various contexts, such as project reviews, team-building activities, and feedback sessions. Its versatility makes it a valuable tool for different types of teams and projects.

• Supports mindful reflection: The template encourages participants to reflect on their experiences, which can lead to deeper insights and more thoughtful decision-making.

In summary, the Rose, Bud, Thorn template is a powerful retro tool that can help teams reflect on their experiences, celebrate successes, address challenges, and identify opportunities for growth. Its structured approach promotes balanced feedback, team engagement, and productive discussions, making it an essential tool for any team looking to improve their processes and outcomes.