Purpose

The Temperature Reading is a quick, five-section check-in developed by Virginia Satir. It covers Appreciations, New Information, Puzzles, Complaints with Recommendations, and Hopes and Wishes. This holistic structure helps teams address multiple dimensions of their experience in a short time and fosters a culture of gratitude alongside constructive feedback.

At a glance

• Group size: 3–15 people
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Beginner
• Facilitation style: Structured
• Setting: Both / Remote-friendly

How to run

1. Introduce the five sections: Appreciations, New Information, Puzzles, Complaints with Recommendations, Hopes and Wishes.
2. Go through each section in order, inviting contributions from anyone (2 minutes per section).
3. Note key items on a board.
4. Close by acknowledging the contributions and noting any follow-up actions.

Materials needed

• Whiteboard or shared document with five sections
• Markers
• Timer

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Skipping Appreciations because it feels awkward — it sets a positive tone and is essential.
• Complaints without recommendations becoming a venting session — enforce the paired format.
• Running over time by letting one section dominate.

Inclusion & accessibility

• The structure ensures quieter voices get invited at each section.
• Allow written contributions alongside verbal ones.
• The Puzzles section is a safe way for new team members to ask questions.

Variations

• Async Temperature Reading: team members fill in sections before the meeting; discuss live only.
• Weighted Temperature: vote on which section needs the most discussion time.
• Personal Temperature: each person rates their personal temperature (1–10) before the reading.

When NOT to use this

• When the team needs a deep-dive into a specific issue — use Five Whys or a focused retro.
• When you have less than 8 minutes — the format loses value if rushed.

Source & further reading

• Virginia Satir, The New Peoplemaking.
• Esther Derby and Diana Larsen, Agile Retrospectives.