Embrace Agility in Life: Using the Agile Retrospective Framework to Set Your New Year Goals

The road ahead © Jose M. Ramirez

The new year often brings a sense of renewal, a blank slate with possibilities. Many of us set resolutions to improve ourselves or achieve new milestones. Unfortunately, these resolutions frequently lose momentum as the year progresses.

What if, instead, we adopted an iterative approach to personal growth that aligns with the principles of agility?

Agility is not merely a methodology or a professional strategy; it is a way of viewing the world. At its core, agility promotes adaptability, continuous improvement, and responsiveness to change. By incorporating these principles into your personal life, you can set more effective goals and achieve them with greater resilience.

One of the most powerful tools within the Agile framework is the retrospective. Originally designed to help teams review their processes and improve their work, the retrospective is just as valuable when applied to personal development. Let us explore how this simple yet effective framework can help you create and sustain meaningful goals for the new year.

The Retrospective Framework for Personal Goals

A retrospective, in its essence, formalizes the process of inspection and adaptation. It provides structured reflection and prioritization of actionable items. For personal use, a modified retrospective board with three action-oriented columns — Start Doing, Stop Doing, and Continue Doing — is an ideal way to approach goal-setting.

Why This Format Works

• Action-Oriented: The framework focuses on behaviors and habits, making it easier to translate insights into tangible actions.
• Iterative: Goals can evolve based on quarterly reviews, allowing for flexibility in response to changing circumstances.
• Habit-Building: By reinforcing positive behaviors and eliminating counterproductive ones, you cultivate long-term growth.

Creating Your Retrospective Board

1. Start Doing

This column is for behaviors, habits, or activities you want to introduce into your life. Think of it as planting seeds for future growth. Be specific. Rather than saying, “Exercise more,” consider:

• Start a daily 15-minute morning yoga routine.
• Start scheduling weekly one-on-one check-ins with my mentor.
• Start dedicating 20 minutes every evening to learning a new language.

2. Stop Doing

Reflection often highlights behaviors or habits that drain your energy or hinder progress. Use this column to identify what to eliminate:

• Stop scrolling social media before bed.
• Stop saying “yes” to projects that do not align with my goals.
• Stop ignoring opportunities to attend free workshops or webinars.

3. Continue Doing

Recognize and reinforce what is already working well. These are your strengths, healthy habits, and successful routines. Examples might include:

• Continue practicing gratitude journaling each evening.
• Continue attending a monthly book club to nurture intellectual growth.
• Continue exploring topics of interest through online courses or podcasts.

A Quarterly Review: Inspect and Adapt

Agility thrives on the principle that conditions change and plans must evolve. Your retrospective board should not be static; it must be reviewed and updated periodically, ideally every quarter. This review should ask:

• Is a “Start Doing” item yielding the expected results? If not, should I pivot my approach, persevere, or abandon it altogether?
• Is something from the “Continue Doing” column no longer serving me due to new circumstances?
• Are there emerging opportunities or challenges that require updates to my goals?

Remember, agility emphasizes courage — the courage to adapt, to stick with what is difficult but rewarding, or to let go when necessary.

Practical Steps to Use Your Retrospective Framework

1. Set Up Your Board Create a physical board using sticky notes or a digital tool like Trello, Notion, or Miro. Label three columns: Start Doing, Stop Doing, and Continue Doing.
2. Brainstorm and Categorize Dedicate an hour to reflect on the past year. Populate the board with items based on your aspirations and learnings.
3. Make Goals Specific and Measurable Attach details and timelines to each card. For instance: Instead of “Read more,” write “Read one book per month,” or instead of “Stop procrastinating,” write “Limit YouTube usage to 30 minutes per day.”
4. Review Quarterly Block time in your calendar to reassess your board every three months. Celebrate successes, make adjustments, and keep moving forward.

Illustrating the Framework

Below is an example of a personal retrospective board:

The retrospective framework is not just a tool; it is a mindset. It encourages mindfulness, accountability, and adaptability. By continuously inspecting and adjusting your processes, you embody the principles of agility, fostering growth in every aspect of your life.

The new year is an opportunity, not to create a rigid plan but to embark on a flexible journey. Embrace the mindset of being agile — not only professionally but also personally — and watch as your life evolves with purpose and resilience.