Run Criteria-Based Dot Voting in Miro
Ask participants to evaluate prepared options against one explicit criterion, then discuss the result. Use native voting if available for your workspace, or clearly label a manual dot exercise; neither substitutes for evidence.
Before you start: Have board access, an accountable decision owner and comparable option summaries. Verify native voting availability rather than promising the same controls on every plan.
Worked example: Choose which onboarding problem most blocks first value, not which proposed screen looks nicest. Keep feasibility constraints visible before allocating dots.
Step-by-step guide
Normalize the options
Give each option the same amount of evidence and explanation. Keep polished mockups from dominating a comparison of unequal detail.
State the criterion
Write the exact question participants should answer. Separate customer impact from implementation effort when they are different judgments.
Define allocation
Agree the number of votes and whether stacking is allowed. Explain the process before starting either native voting or manual dots.
Collect independent views
Allow silent assessment before discussion. If using visible manual dots, acknowledge the influence that earlier votes can have.
Review the tally
Discuss the evidence behind leading and dissenting choices. Check mandatory constraints rather than treating preference as a final score.
Record the owner’s decision
Save the chosen action, rationale and unresolved risk. Keep the vote as input alongside the actual decision.
Common mistakes
Votes prove customer value
They show participant preference, not market evidence.
Different criteria mixed
The tally becomes hard to interpret.
Manual dots called anonymous
Visible marks can influence others. State the limitation.
Tips
Keep option summaries equally detailed.
Ask dissenters for their strongest concern.
Separate constraints from preferences.
Sources and verification
Based on product documentation checked on 2026-10-24. This is a documentation-based guide, not a hands-on benchmark. Features and availability can change.