Start Stop Continue Retrospective

A simple, action-focused format that helps teams identify what to start doing, what to stop doing, and what is already working well.

What Is the Start Stop Continue Format?

Start Stop Continue (also called SSC) is one of the most widely used retrospective formats in Agile teams. Its power comes from its simplicity: three columns, three clear questions, and a direct path to actionable outcomes.

▶️

Start

New practices, habits, or behaviors the team should begin. Things the team isn't doing yet that could improve the next sprint.

⏹️

Stop

Practices or behaviors that are not helping — or actively causing harm. Things the team should stop doing to improve flow, quality, or morale.

✅

Continue

Things that are working well and should be kept. Behaviors and practices worth protecting as the team moves forward.

Example Cards

Here is what a Start Stop Continue board might look like after a typical software sprint:

▶ Start

Pair programming on complex stories

Writing acceptance criteria before picking up tickets

More sprint refinement sessions

Automated regression tests for new features

⏹ Stop

Last-minute deployments on Fridays

Scope changes mid-sprint without discussion

Skipping PR reviews under time pressure

Carrying over the same blocker sprint after sprint

✅ Continue

Daily standups — they keep us aligned

Sprint demo with stakeholders

Team knowledge-sharing sessions

Rotating the facilitator role

Benefits of Start Stop Continue

Immediately actionable — every category maps directly to behaviors and decisions
Easy to understand — no special facilitation knowledge required
Balanced feedback — the three columns naturally produce both positive and improvement-focused input
Works well for remote teams — cards can be submitted before verbal discussion begins
Scales to any team size

Best Situations to Use This Format

New Agile teams running their first few retrospectives
Teams that have gotten into bad habits and need a reset
After a particularly chaotic or process-heavy sprint
When the team wants clarity on what to change going forward
As a default format when the team isn't sure what else to try

Tips for a Successful Session

Give everyone 5–10 minutes to write cards silently before revealing them
Use anonymous submissions to ensure honest feedback
Cluster similar cards and vote on the most important topics
Commit to one or two concrete actions from the Stop column — not ten
Open the next retro by reviewing last sprint's commitments

💡 Comparing templates? If your team wants more nuance than three columns, consider the Starfish format, which adds "More Of" and "Less Of" for finer-grained feedback. You can also use BugNBrag's custom column feature — the Scrum Master can add any column to fit your team's specific needs.

Try Start Stop Continue with your team

Create a free BugNBrag session and select the Start Stop Continue template.

🚀 Create Free Session