The core objective of the start-stop-continue method is an action-oriented retrospective style to receive feedback for continuous improvements.

OVERVIEW

The start-stop-continue activity is typically facilitated at the end of a workshop (or a day within a workshop series), as it provides participants with an opportunity to reflect upon their learnings and expectations from the workshop. Participants identify what they would like to have in the future event (start), what they prefer to end (stop) and what they would like to have continuously (continue). The feedback from the participants helps the workshop facilitators to improve their conceptual framework of the next event, especially in training consisting of several workshops targeting the same group of participants.

WORKSHOP PHASE

CLOSING

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Any number of participants

TIME |
MODE OF DELIVERY

20-30 minutes | F2F & Online

TOOLS/MATERIALS

At least three pin boards, markers, moderation cards, pins

Online: The facilitator can conduct this activity with the Miro template.

PREPARATION

The facilitator has to decide on the time allocation for the activity. Participants must be given a specific time frame to complete each activity part. For instance, the facilitator might allocate 5-10 minutes for the participants to identify their start-stop-continue thoughts, 5 minutes for pin their cards on the pin-boards, 5 minutes for grouping the thoughts and 5 minutes for presenting the thoughts of start-stop-continue. (The time can be less or more, depending on the size of the participants' group. However, the activity should not be too long, as participants will have less energy at the end of the workshop).
The facilitator has to ensure enough moderation cards for participants.

Step 1

The exercise starts with the workshop facilitator briefly explaining the purpose of the start-stop-continue activity. They should inform participants that this activity is designed to collect their feedback on the workshop content, methods and organisation. The feedback will help to improve the conceptual framework of the future activity. Meanwhile, the moderation cards and markers can be allocated to the participants (e.g. from a co-facilitator). Ideally, participants are advised to write one thought per card and make a note of which purpose the thought is for (start, stop or continue).

Step 2

The participants reflect upon their experiences during the workshop, writing down their individual start-stop-continue notes. The facilitator alters the participants' time.

Step 3

After the participants have completed their start-stop-continue notes, the facilitator invites them to pin their note cards on the pin board according to the feedback theme: start board, stop board and continue board.

Step 4

The facilitator(s) group the notes of the participants and conclude the activity by summarising the feedback and sharing it with the group.

In a physical workshop, the facilitator can alternatively conduct this activity with digital techniques, such as the Miro template.

This exercise draws from the practical experience of the database contributors as well as the following resources:

Miro: https://miro.com/de/templates/start-stop-continue-retrospective/. (Accessed: 8 July 2024)

This exercise can also be used in other contexts such as process improvement, feedback conversation, project reflection, etc.

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