Introduction: What You’ll Learn
When a new teammate joins a retrospective for the first time, it’s a key opportunity to set the tone for openness and inclusion. But it can also feel a bit awkward for everyone — especially if there are issues to raise. This simulation helps you model healthy team dynamics and invite early engagement from new members without putting them on the spot.
You’ll practice:
- Setting context and expectations clearly for newcomers
- Creating psychological safety early on
- Balancing team honesty with inclusion
- Gently inviting (not pressuring) participation
Step-by-Step Simulation
(A new teammate, Minh, has just joined the team this week. It’s their first retro. You sense the team is supportive, but slightly reserved.)
Scene 1: Setting the Tone
Facilitator: "Welcome, everyone. Before we get started, just a quick note that Minh’s joining us for their first retro today. Minh, no pressure to speak up yet — feel free to just observe and jump in if anything resonates."
Minh: "Thanks — I’m happy to listen in."
Facilitator: "We’re doing Start, Stop, Continue today. Think of it as: What should we start doing, stop doing, or keep doing based on this past sprint?"
(The board starts filling up. Conversation begins normally, with praise and light suggestions.)
Scene 2: Light Encouragement, Not Pressure
Facilitator: "Great thoughts so far — a nice balance of wins and areas to tweak. Minh, totally optional, but was there anything this week that stood out — even something small?"
Minh: "Actually… I liked how open people were during daily standups. I’ve seen that go differently elsewhere."
Facilitator: "Appreciate you sharing that — and glad it came across! Anyone else want to call out what helped our standups work well this time?"
(Alex mentions shorter updates, Priya says the notes doc helped. Team starts reflecting more concretely.)
Scene 3: Balancing Reflection and Onboarding
Facilitator: "There’s a note here about onboarding being a little bumpy — Minh, not to put you on the spot, but open to sharing anything we could improve there?"
Minh: "Sure. Honestly it wasn’t bad, but there were a couple moments where I wasn’t sure who to ask about certain flows."
Sara: "That’s fair — we probably could’ve paired you up more early on."
Facilitator: "Sounds like something worth trying next time. Let’s add a default pairing buddy for new joiners."
(Team agrees. Light energy remains as the group wraps.)
Scene 4: Wrapping Up
Facilitator: "Thanks everyone — and welcome again, Minh. Great to see the team helping each other grow. Here’s what we’ll carry forward:"
- Keep standups short and structured with shared notes
- Add default onboarding buddy for new teammates
- Review onboarding clarity in next retro
Facilitator: "Anyone want to own a follow-up on these?"
(Priya offers to write a buddy guide. Leo volunteers to check shared notes are up to date. Facilitator will schedule a quick onboarding follow-up chat.)
Facilitator: "Awesome — thanks for the warm energy today. That’s what makes retros work."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: New teammate doesn’t speak at all.
- Best Response: “All good — feel free to just observe. Let me know if anything jumps out after.”
Challenge 2: New teammate says something critical and everyone goes quiet.
- Best Response: “Thanks for bringing that in — we value honesty here, and this is how we improve.”
Challenge 3: Team avoids real issues because the new person is present.
- Best Response: “Let’s be honest but constructive — we all benefit from shared context.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- The new teammate was hired into a role that others applied for
- A sensitive topic comes up unexpectedly
- A senior leader drops into the retro without notice
Reflection Checklist
Facilitation
- Did I set expectations for the new person clearly?
- Did I invite participation without pressure?
Team Culture
- Did we stay honest and constructive?
- Did we model inclusive, safe behavior?
Onboarding Impact
- Did we learn anything to improve future onboarding?
- Did the new teammate feel welcomed and heard?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-explaining or spotlighting the new person
- Skipping retros or avoiding feedback when someone new joins
- Making assumptions about what the new person wants or needs
- Letting “first week” become a reason to avoid honesty