Method · Retrospectives

The 4 Ls retrospective: how to run it

Look back on a piece of work through four words — what we liked, learned, lacked and longed for — to see both the good and what was missing.

45 minutes4 stepsRetrospectives
Other methods

When it helps

Use it at the end of a project, a quarter or a training programme when you want a balanced look back that includes learning, not only problems. The four headings are easy for any team to use.

When to use something else

Skip it for a quick weekly check, where start-stop-continue is faster, or after a serious failure that needs a focused look at causes.

How to run it, step by step

  1. Write alone8 min
    • Notes under liked, learned, lacked and longed for.
  2. Read and group10 min
    • Each person reads theirs out; group similar notes.
  3. Discuss the patterns15 min
    • Which notes came up most, and what do they say?
  4. Turn lacked and longed for into actions12 min
    • What do we change next time, and who owns it?

What comes out — an example

Made up, to show the shape.

Liked. The weekly customer calls.

Learned. Small clinics care more about setup time than features.

Lacked. A clear owner for the launch emails.

Longed for. A test environment that matches production.

Actions. Name a launch-email owner next time (Ines); request a production-like test environment (Tom).

Where it comes from

The 4 Ls were described by Mary Gorman and Ellen Gottesdiener as a retrospective technique.

Questions

What are the 4 Ls in a retrospective?

Liked, learned, lacked and longed for — four prompts for reflecting on a period of work.

When is the 4 Ls retrospective useful?

At the end of a project, release or training period, when learning matters as much as problems.

How is it different from start stop continue?

The 4 Ls include learning and wishes, giving a fuller picture; start stop continue goes straight to actions.

Other methods

Start, stop, continueA quick retrospective in three columns: what we should start doing, stop doing, and keep doing — ending with two or three changes to try.Sailboat retrospectiveDraw a boat sailing to an island: the team adds what pushes it forward (wind), what holds it back (anchors), and risks ahead (rocks) — a picture that makes a retrospective easier to talk about.Mad, sad, gladA retrospective built on feelings: what made the team mad, what made it sad, and what made it glad — useful when emotions are running high and need to be heard before problems can be fixed.Lean CoffeeA meeting with no agenda until it starts: everybody writes topics, the group votes, and you talk about the most popular ones in short, timed rounds.Fishbowl discussionA few people talk in an inner circle while everyone else listens from around them; listeners can step in by taking an empty chair, so a large group can hold one real conversation.1-2-4-AllEveryone thinks alone, then in pairs, then in fours, then the whole group shares — so every person contributes and the best ideas rise in about twelve minutes.

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