Use The 4 R's To Improve Your 3 E's!

tldr; If your retrospectives have turned into a "complain-fest" with no action, you're missing the chance to teach your squads a valuable lesson. Use the 4 Rs (Reflect, Root Cause, Rethink, Retool) to turn data into insights and experiments that actually move the needle for your Squad and Crew. Healthy teams improve and balance their 3 Es: being Effective, Efficient, and Engaged.

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Agility isn't about getting the team to produce faster; it’s about creating empowered teams that produce results efficiently and indefinitely. I’ve shared before that high-performing teams must balance their 3 Es. They strive to be Effective (delivering the right value), Efficient (delivering with minimal waste), and Engaged (feeling safe and purposeful).

But let’s be real—the "daily swirl" of doing can easily knock these pillars out of alignment. When you feel that friction, it’s not a failure; it’s an invitation to get curious. If your squads aren’t finishing retrospectives with tangible improvements, it’s time to try the 4 Rs:

• Reflect: Look at the data with an external lens. Did we move the needle for the customer? How often were we interrupted? Data gives us the clues.

• Root Cause: Use the 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram or some other technique to dig deeper into the root cause. Why aren’t customers using the new features like we expected them to?  What is causing so many mid-sprint interruptions and new stories?  Stop treating symptoms and start curing the system.

• Rethink: Challenge your assumptions. What things do we need to do differently to improve our results? What "quick and dirty" test can we run to see if we can minimize interruptions?  Remember, it’s about solving for the root cause, not just reducing symptoms.

• Retool: Make the change and test for an agreed upon trial period. Did we get the lift we hoped for?  What new things did we uncover?  What should we try next? Remember: there is no failure here—only learning.

When we commit to the 4 Rs, we aren't just "fixing problems"—we are showing squads that they have the power to improve their own reality. By teaching squads they can solve their own problems, you’re fostering a culture where there is no "bad news," only news that helps us get better.

Coach’s Challenge: In your next retro, don't leave the room until the team has identified one "Retool" experiment based on a "Root Cause."  If you’re stuck - ask your coach or reach out and I’ll give you some ideas on how you can move forward.

We all win together!

Coach Dan