In addition to offering an extensive collection of ready-to-use retrospective templates, Neatro provides everything you need to build your own activities.
Let’s walk through how to create your retrospective template — step by step.
📢 We recommend familiarizing yourself with the Neatro retrospective experience before creating custom templates. Your personalized template will follow the core steps of the Neatro facilitation framework.
📢 We recommend familiarizing yourself with the Neatro retrospective experience before creating custom templates. Your personalized template will follow the core steps of the Neatro facilitation framework.
Create your own retrospective template
As a reminder, as stated in the Neatro User Roles documentation, only users with the Administrator or Facilitator role can create a custom retrospective template.
From the Retrospective Templates home page (https://app.neatro.io/templates), click Create your own template at the top of your screen.
At this point, you have two options:
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Create a retrospective template from scratch
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Build a retrospective template using the content of one of the ready-to-use Neatro activities
In both cases, the template creation experience remains similar. The second option simply allows you to start with an existing Neatro template and modify it to your liking.
Let’s continue with the first option — Blank template.
It may look empty at the moment, but it’s time to get started! Follow the steps below to complete your custom retrospective template.
To illustrate this example, we will create a template for discussing a team’s production process: Muda, Muri, Mura.
1/ Fill in the basic information of your retrospective
You are now in the Name & Description section of your template.
First, give your retrospective a name. You can modify it at any time.
Then, briefly describe your retrospective. This description will be visible in your list of retrospective activities. You can edit it at any time.
Now, let’s add a cover image to your template.
Click on the cover image (the illustration above the title).
A sliding panel will appear on the right side of your screen, allowing you to choose:
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An illustration from the Unsplash collection
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A custom image
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A background color
Search for a keyword in the search bar. For example, searching “Japan” will display related images.
Click the visual that suits you best. It will automatically replace your cover image.
2/ Create your retrospective columns
Go to the Design & Structure subsection, then click on the title of the first column of your template.
Modify the title and description of the column.
Next, click the Add column button at the top left of the screen.
Add as many columns as needed, and edit the titles and descriptions for each one.
To customize a column visually, click the emoji above the column title.
You can choose images from:
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The Neatro collection
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The Microsoft collection (more than 1,300 emojis)
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The Unsplash collection
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Your own uploaded images
Add a picture for each column to personalize your template.
Our columns are ready, and they all have their own identity. Let us now give our activity a deeper atmosphere.
3/ Select a background and display mode
Click the Background button at the top right of the screen.
You can choose a background image from Unsplash, upload a custom image, or select a plain background.
If your background makes the text difficult to read, activate Dark mode using the toggle at the top right of the screen.
Your model is almost ready.
Neatro is a bilingual English and French tool. If you want to incorporate a French version into your activity, follow the instructions in the next section. Otherwise, go directly to the “Publish and share my model” section.
Translate a custom retrospective template
Neatro is available in both English and French.
If you have French-speaking team members, you can create a French version of your template so they can view it in their preferred language.
To translate your template, click the Translation button at the top right of the screen.
Activate the French locale and confirm.
The French content fields will appear above the original English version.
Update the titles and descriptions of each column in French.
You can also return to the Name & Description section to translate the template name and description.
Publish and share my template
Once your template is complete — including any translations — click the Publish button at the top right of the screen.
Select the sharing mode that suits your needs:
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Leave Share with your organization unchecked if only your team should access the template
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Enable Share with your organization if all teams in your Neatro organization should have access
You can update the sharing settings later if needed.
After confirming your choice, you will be redirected to the Retrospective Templates home page, where your new custom template will appear at the top of the list.
To edit or delete your custom template, click the ⋮ button and select the desired action.
The Details option displays useful information such as the template author, publication date, last modification date, and sharing settings.