The 4Ls stand for Liked, Learned, Lacked and Longed For: what the team liked, what it learned, what was missing and what it wished it had. The Learned column is what sets it apart: it captures knowledge, not just feelings.
It is useful after a stretch with a lot of new things, like a new technology, a new process or new people joining the team.
When to use it
- After trying a new tool, practice or process.
- With teams that tend to use the retro only to vent.
- To capture lessons that other teams can reuse.
The columns and their questions
What did you like about this cycle?
What did you learn that is worth writing down?
What was missing that kept the work from flowing?
What do you wish you had had or done?
Step by step (55 minutes)
- Set the stage 5 min
Walk through the four columns with an example for each.
- Silent writing 12 min
Everyone writes in all four columns without seeing anyone else's notes.
- Group 10 min
Reveal and group; highlight the lessons worth sharing.
- Vote and discuss 20 min
Vote on Lacked and Longed For items and discuss the top-voted ones.
- Action items 8 min
Turn the top Lacked and Longed For items into actions with an owner.
Facilitation tips
- Save the Learned column: it becomes a useful record for the next similar project.
- Lacked is about resources and conditions; Longed For is about aspirations. Telling them apart helps you prioritize.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Lacked and Longed For?
Lacked covers what was missing for the work to flow, like resources, information or conditions. Longed For covers what the team wished it had or could do, closer to aspirations.
Don't four columns make the retro too long?
With timeboxed silent writing and dot voting, it fits in 55 to 60 minutes.