A retrospective can hold more than short cards. Its linked Article and Comments keep background and discussion close to the board, and an activity meeting lets the team work on that same board while talking together.

Give the Cards Useful Context

The linked Article is the place for material that would become unwieldy on a card:

Use the linked content's normal editing controls when you have permission to update it. Opening Article from the retrospective tools displays that context; it does not grant new editing rights.

Comments keeps questions and follow-up discussion attached to the same retrospective. A comment is useful when a point needs an answer but does not need another reflection card.

The linked Article starts as a draft. Creating the board, adding cards, or discussing them does not publish it or create a post. Any publication decision remains separate from finishing the conversation.

Read and Discuss Beside the Board

On desktop, Article and Comments appear in the retrospective's tools. Open a panel, read or discuss the context, then close it to return to the full board. Switching between the tools does not create a new retrospective or move the linked content.

The standalone tools follow the app's access requirement, so they are unavailable in a read-only workspace without Coordinator. The content also keeps its own area and document permissions. If a panel cannot open the linked content, check that you are using the correct board and still have access to its location.

Bring the Board into an Activity Meeting

The meeting adds a shared stage around a Retrospective; it does not create a separate temporary board type.

Open Live Apps → Retrospectives in an activity meeting, then choose an existing board or create one in the meeting's activity. The meeting presents the same cards, reactions, and linked discussion as the standalone board. Work saved during the call remains with the retrospective after the call ends.

The meeting supplies the stage and surrounding controls. You can change between its layouts without creating a copy of the board. Use Document options → Open to return to the meeting's retrospective explorer when you need a different board; choosing a document there changes your selected content.

Participants need access to the board's owning area. They can add feedback in the meeting workspace, and only the original author can edit or move an existing card. Creating a new board still requires Retrospectives creation access. These meeting controls differ from the standalone editor, which requires Coordinator to accept input.

For the full sequence, see Collaborate with Live Apps in a Meeting.

Leave the View, Keep the Work

Changing your selected feed changes what you are viewing. Closing a meeting app removes its shared feed from the room, but it does not delete the retrospective or hang up the call. The board can be reopened from Retros or Documents in its original location.

In a standalone activity-based board, Document options → Open returns to the source activity. If the board has no source activity, use the surrounding app or space navigation to leave. The board has no formal completion or locking action.

Before leaving, check for pending-save or recovery notices. Saved cards persist; a local draft that still needs recovery is not a substitute for a confirmed shared result.

Common Questions

Is the meeting board a temporary copy?

No. It opens the existing retrospective, and saved changes remain part of that board.

Does a meeting invite grant access to a private board?

No. Participants still need access to the owning space area and linked content.

Can I use this in a direct-message call?

Retrospectives is available through activity meeting Live Apps, not direct-message calls.

Does the linked Article have to be published first?

No. A new board begins with a draft Article and can be used before publication.

Where should a follow-up go?

Use an action card to record the decision, Comments for discussion, and the linked Article for a fuller summary. Create work in Goals when it needs ongoing assignment or tracking.

Continue with Run a Team Retrospective for a connected facilitation workflow.