Rose, Bud, Thorn

How to Play

Setup

1. Appoint a facilitator to guide the flow and keep time.
2. Choose the time frame for shares (e.g., today, this week, this sprint). Share it clearly with the group.
3. Set a time limit per person (commonly 1–2 minutes). Larger groups should aim for 60–90 seconds each.
4. Arrange seating in a circle for in-person sessions or use gallery view online. Ensure everyone can see and hear each other.
5. Optionally display a prompt slide or board with the three prompts: Rose (positive), Bud (anticipation/opportunity), Thorn (challenge).
6. Establish psychological safety: remind participants that listening is as important as speaking, and that passing is allowed.

How to Play

1. The facilitator explains the structure: each person shares one rose, one bud, and one thorn related to the chosen time frame.
2. Offer a quick example to model depth and brevity.
3. Decide on the speaking order (clockwise, alphabetical, or volunteer/popcorn). In virtual settings, use a speaker queue or participant list.
4. The first person shares:
   • Rose: something positive or a win.
   • Bud: something emerging or something they are looking forward to.
   • Thorn: a challenge, blocker, or concern.
5. While someone is speaking, others listen without interrupting. Encourage note-taking for later follow-up (not in the moment).
6. After each share, allow 15–30 seconds for one appreciative acknowledgment or a clarifying question if the speaker welcomes it.
7. Continue around the group until everyone has had a turn or the allotted time ends.
8. Close with a brief reflection: highlight themes, name any follow-up actions for thorns (without problem-solving in the circle), and thank participants.

Rules

1. Respect the time box: 1–2 minutes per person.
2. One voice at a time; no cross-talk.
3. Listening first: no fixing or advising unless the speaker explicitly asks.
4. Confidentiality: what is shared stays in the group, unless agreed otherwise.
5. Speak from personal experience; avoid blaming or naming others negatively.
6. Passing is allowed; the facilitator can circle back later.
7. Keep thorns constructive: state the challenge and, if helpful, the support you need.
8. Equal participation: everyone gets an opportunity to share.

Tips

• Model with your own concise share to set tone and depth.
• Use 'one sentence per item' for large groups to maintain pace.
• For distributed teams, go remote-first: capture roses/buds/thorns in chat or on a shared board.
• Create a follow-up list for thorns that need separate discussion.
• Rotate the facilitator weekly to build ownership.
• Offer prompt ideas if people get stuck (e.g., project progress, learning, collaboration, wellbeing).
• Consider separate work/personal versions if your culture supports it.
• Use gentle time signals (visual timer, hand raise) to stay on schedule.

Variations

1. Rapid Round: 30 seconds per person; one word or one sentence for each category.
2. Pair-Share: Break into pairs, then harvest one insight per pair with the full group.
3. Silent Board: Everyone posts digital or sticky notes under Rose/Bud/Thorn, then the facilitator clusters themes.
4. Asynchronous: Collect shares via a form or chat thread before the meeting; skim highlights live.
5. Focused Theme: Limit to project-specific items (e.g., sprint-only) or to wellbeing-only.
6. Thorn-to-Bud: After sharing a thorn, optionally name one next step or support request to turn it into a bud.