The dot voting processÂ
So how exactly do you conduct a dot voting session? Here are the basics:
1. Generate ideasÂ
Write each idea on a sticky note and place it on the board or wall. You can also brainstorm virtually on a collaborative whiteboard like Lucidspark, particularly if participants are working from home or located in different offices.
2. Organize the options into groups or clusters based on theme or type, as needed
If youâre working with similar options, try organizing them into clusters so you can easily visualize intersecting themes. Then when the group goes to vote, you can quickly identify what theme(s) the team is gravitating towards.
This makes it easier to understand the groupâs preferences and priorities and provides you a good jumping-off point for further discussion and possibly another vote.
3. Give each participant a set of dot stickers
If you donât have dot stickers, participants can simply mark their favorite options with a pen or marker. The facilitator decides how many votes (dots) each person will get ahead of time. A good rule of thumb is that each person should get a number of dots equal to 25% of the total options. So, if you have 12 options to vote on, each person will get three dots.
4. Clarify voting constraints
Before you vote, explain why you are holding a vote and how you will act on the outcome. Include the criteria people should base their vote on. For example, you may want to limit people to vote on options that they have either ownership or expertise in. That way you get better, informed decision-making. Also include any other pertinent rules or constraints.
5. Vote
Each person sticks their dots on one or more options. Voting should be silent until all votes have been cast. Save the discussion for later.
6. Assess the outcome
Take a step back and review your board. The results will probably look similar to a heatmap distribution, with dots concentrated on the most popular options. Feel free to open up discussion now. Participants can share why they voted a certain way and discuss next steps based on the outcome. Â
7. Revote as needed
Depending on the goal of the vote, you may need to hold another voting session. For example, if you used the first vote to narrow down a big list of options, you can hold a second vote to determine the best (or preferred) option from your shortlist.
Common criticisms of dot voting
Of course, nothing is perfect. Despite all its advantages, dot voting does have some weaknesses you should be aware of.Â
Persuaded voting
Dot voting works best when everyone has a chance to vote without outside pressure. This allows for all voices to be heard and given equal weight in the decision-making process.Â
However, if discussion or lobbying occurs before or during a vote, one individual could skew the results by persuading others to support their favored option. This is especially problematic if you are trying to avoid the HIPPO effect.
To prevent this, enforce a silent vote and consider implementing a voting order. For instance, you could assign junior members of the group to vote first so they are not influenced by senior team membersâ opinions.Â
Split voting
This one is pretty straightforward. Dot voting can sometimes result in an even split of votes between two or more options.
A simple fix to avoid this problem is to do ranked voting. Have each participant put 1, 2, and 3 on their dots (or however many votes they have), representing their first, second, and third choice. When the voting is complete, calculate the weighted vote for each option to determine the winner.
Groupthink
Similar to persuaded voting, groupthink or group vote, is when participants cluster their votes because they see thatâs what everyone else did.Â
There are a couple of ways to prevent this. You can have participants record their votes on a piece of paper before they place their dots. This method helps keep team members accountable to their original preferences so they donât succumb to peer pressure. You can also conduct the vote online using a survey tool or brainstorming solution like Lucidspark.
Options with varying complexity
Dot voting is most effective when you are voting on options that are similar in complexity. If you mix in options with varying levels of difficulty, effort, and complexity, itâs hard to get an accurate understanding of the groupâs real preferences (and participants may not be sure what exactly theyâre being asked to vote on).
An easy solution is to implement color-coding to classify your votes. For instance, you could use red to indicate âmeets needs,â blue to indicate low-hanging fruit, and green for breakthrough priorities.
