Retrospectives are a vital part of any agile team’s rhythm, and they’re most effective when everyone feels heard and engaged. One technique that has transformed the way I facilitate virtual large team retros is using Miro’s dot voting feature. It’s not just a time-saver; it’s a way to ensure every voice counts and the team’s collective priorities shine through.
Set it Up
As a team we take 5-10 minutes to reflect and write sticky notes for each of the retro board columns “Shoutouts, Start, Stop, Continue”. We start with team shoutouts to set a positive tone and celebrate wins. Then I give the team 30 seconds to grab three dots and place them on any three sticky notes in the remaining categories—“Start,” “Stop,” “Continue,” (or custom ones we’ve tailored to our discussion). I give clear instructions: “Put your dots on the stickies that you want the group to spend the next X minutes talking about. You can put all three dots on one sticky, or spread them across two or three. The stickies with the most dots are what we’ll focus on.”
Shift the Meeting Dynamics
This approach shifts the dynamic of the meeting. Instead of going through every sticky note or focusing on the loudest voices, we let the dots tell us what’s most important to the group. It’s a method that works for everyone:
- For quieter team members: Dot voting ensures their preferences and concerns carry just as much weight as anyone else’s. They don’t have to advocate for their own ideas if they’d rather listen or support someone else’s.
- For those who prefer to observe: It’s an opportunity to focus on topics they find interesting or impactful without needing to explain their own points.
- For balancing discussions: It prevents the meeting from being dominated by individuals who write a lot of sticky notes. Instead of giving disproportionate attention to volume, we prioritize the topics the majority wants to engage with.
The result? A retrospective where the team’s collective voice sets the agenda. For example, a sticky with ten dots becomes an obvious starting point. I’ll ask the author to introduce it, then invite others who voted on it to share their thoughts: “Six of you felt this was important. Who wants to add their perspective?” This keeps the conversation focused and inclusive.
As a facilitator, I shift into listen mode. I’m not problem-solving; I’m capturing ideas and actions. Once we land on a clear next step, I summarize it and confirm with the group: “Is this the right action to take?” For especially tricky topics, a second round of dot voting can help the team decide which action to prioritize.
Flexible for Any Virtual Meeting
What makes this approach so effective is the engagement. Instead of spending time on every sticky or letting a few voices dominate, we focus on what matters most to the team. It’s a system that fosters inclusivity, encourages curiosity about colleagues’ ideas, and ensures the entire team feels heard.
Give it A try
If you’re facilitating retros for virtual teams, give dot voting in Miro a try. It’s a flexible, fair, and engaging approach that turns retrospectives into a true team effort.