Retros Need Psychological Transitions

The problem: Your team dreads retros. They show up wanting to get it over with. The meeting feels like a chore.

Why this happens: People can't jump straight from "doing work" to "reflecting on work" without changing mental gears. They're still in execution mode. You're asking them to switch to reflection mode with no transition.

The solution: Use a pattern interrupt. Play a 10-minute game before the retro. Do an icebreaker. Something that forces people to stop working and shift their mindset.

Why this works: You can't zone out when you're playing a game. The game forces presence. After the game, people are in a different mental state—one that's more open to reflection and discussion.

The principle: Any meeting that requires a different mental state needs a transition ritual. Don't just calendar-invite people and expect them to show up ready.