Niko-Niko Calendar

When to use Niko-Niko Calendar

Use this method during retrospectives or team check-ins to gauge overall team sentiment and identify recurring patterns of positive or negative experiences. It's particularly useful when you want to move beyond generic feedback and create a safe space for sharing personal experiences.

What it solves

Lack of consistent feedback, difficulty identifying morale issues, reluctance to share negative experiences.

How to run Niko-Niko Calendar, step by step

1. Create a calendar grid with team member names and working days (5 minutes).
2. At the end of each day, have each team member mark their happiness level using a pre-defined scale (e.g., great, good, bad, horrible) (5 minutes).
3. Encourage team members to briefly explain their rating (10 minutes).
4. Review the calendar regularly to identify trends and discuss potential improvements (5-10 minutes).

Materials needed

• Calendar grid (physical or digital)
• Colored dots or digital equivalents (e.g., emojis)
• Markers or text input

Facilitator tips

• Encourage honest and open sharing, but respect individual boundaries.
• Look for patterns and trends over time, rather than focusing on individual days.
• Adapt the rating scale to fit your team's culture and preferences.

Common pitfalls

• Team members may be hesitant to share negative feelings if they don't feel safe.
• Ensure psychological safety by emphasizing that the goal is to improve the team's overall experience, not to assign blame.
• The calendar can become stale if not reviewed and acted upon regularly. Schedule time for reflection and action planning.

Variations

• Use different rating scales (e.g., 3 levels instead of 4).
• Conduct the activity in the morning to set intentions for the day.
• Use emojis or other visual cues instead of colored dots.

Running it online or hybrid

Use a shared online spreadsheet (e.g., Google Sheets, Excel Online) where team members can input their daily ratings and comments. Consider using a virtual whiteboard tool like Miro or Mural for a more visual representation.

What it produces

A visual calendar displaying each team member's daily happiness rating, along with brief explanations for their choices.

Origin

Adapted from Sachiko Kuroda, Fujitsu Software Technologies Limited — source

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