What needs to be finished first
A finite set of options (ideas, topics, initiatives) is clearly visible on a wall or board, each option clearly labeled as a sticky note or card.
The voting question is explicitly formulated ('Which 3 ideas should we prototype next?'), not 'which idea do you like?'.
What needs to be ready before start
Sticky dots (3-7 per person depending on option volume), with digital voting tool if needed (Miro, FigJam, Mural); whiteboard with options visible; timer.
A facilitator to explain rules and count; all workshop participants as voters; optional note taker for discussion after voting.
Number of options; planned voting question; number of votes (rule of thumb: ~1/3 of options, max 5-7 votes per person); whether multi-voting on one option is allowed.
5-15 min
Options clearly visible. Voting question large above options. Announce vote count. Rule: use all votes, silence during voting, no lobbying. Set timer to 3-5 min voting time.
The one question this method answers
Which options receive the most support from the group, and where do consensus or polarization appear?
Marker: Phase
| Step | Duration | Action | Hint |
|---|---|---|---|
1Phase 1: Voting question and rules | 2-3 min | Repeat the voting question aloud and display it clearly. Announce vote count per person. Explain whether multi-voting is allowed on one option or not, depending on setup. | If voting question is unclear, clarify before voting starts. Otherwise everyone votes with different criteria and result is unusable. |
2Phase 2: Reviewing options | 2-3 min | Everyone silently reads the options. If any option is unclear, short clarification by creator only, no discussion on rating. | Without this review, participants vote by salience (what they saw first). Review phase is mandatory for fair rating. |
3Phase 3: Silent voting | 3-5 min | Each participant places dots in silence. No talking, no observing others (avoid anchoring). Digital: vote simultaneously or keep votes hidden until end. | Talking during voting influences others. If someone is first to place on option X, it attracts other votes. Silence is non-negotiable. |
4Phase 4: Review results | 3-5 min | Display votes. Identify top options. Mark consensus (many votes, many voters) vs. polarization (many votes, few voters with concentrated points). | An option with 10 votes from one person is not consensus. Voter count per option is more important than total votes. |
5Phase 5: Discussion and follow-up action | 5-10 min | Discuss top options: why these, what was surprising? Talk about outliers (options with one vote from one person can be relevant). Name owners for top-3. | Dot Voting is not a decision, only shortlisting for a decider or further process. Communicate that voting provides signals, not commands. |
What comes out at the end
Options list with vote count and voter count, derived shortlist with top 3-5 options and follow-up action with owner; optional discussion notes on consensus vs. polarization.
For repeated voting on the same options (e.g. after discussion or new data), run a separate voting round with timestamp. Comparing rounds shows opinion shifts.
Compact agenda template for method sequences with timebox, purpose, and output.
Goal: ... Participants: ... Duration: ...
| Time | Method | Purpose | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | Check-in | Set focus | Shared start |
| 00:10 | How Might We | Ideation questions | HMW list |
| 00:35 | Brainwriting | Generate ideas | Idea pool |
| 01:10 | Dot Voting | Prepare selection | Prioritized ideas |
| 01:30 | Storyboarding | Make the concept tangible | Storyboard |
Decision, owner, next test.
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Voting question: 'Which 3 ideas should we prototype next?' Options: 8 clusters from brainstorming Voters: 7 people × 3 votes = 21 points
| Option | Votes | Voter count | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-filled demo data | 8 | 6 | Clear consensus |
| DATEV export prominence | 5 | 4 | Solid support |
| Migration magic | 4 | 3 | Polarizes (1 person, 3 votes) |
| First-step wizard | 2 | 2 | Weaker |
| Personalized onboarding | 1 | 1 | Outlier |
| Live coach | 1 | 1 | Outlier |
| Onboarding tutorial | 0 | 0 | None |
| Aha trailer video | 0 | 0 | None |
Recognize symptoms and steer against them
Everyone votes by different criteria (favorite idea vs. easiest vs. most important).
Make the question explicit and single-dimension ('prototype next', 'highest impact', 'lowest effort'). Do not mix dimensions in one voting round.
First vote on option X attracts additional votes, causing a bandwagon effect.
Vote simultaneously (digital: show votes only at the end). Physical: keep it fast and silent, do not watch others.
Lobbying before voting distorts votes. Louder arguments win.
Keep review phase silent. Any discussion before voting should be only for clarification, not persuasion. Voting is a snapshot of gut feel.
Top-voted option is implemented immediately without a sanity check.
Communicate clearly: voting is a signal for the decider, not democracy. Top options are evaluated by the decider with additional criteria.
With 10 options, everyone assigns 7 votes and all options get points, reducing clarity.
Rule of thumb: 1/3 of options, max 5-7 votes. For 10 options use 3 votes, for 20 options 5-6 votes. Scarcity creates prioritization.
Done signals checkable in under a minute
Go to the profile for purpose, similar methods, and sources or continue to the next method in the catalog.