DecisionBeginner

Roman Voting

The simplest possible group voting technique: thumbs up (yes), thumbs sideways (neutral/can live with it), or thumbs down (no/block). Named after the Roman gladiatorial arena gesture, it's used for rapid, simultaneous polling on yes/no decisions or to check for consent.

Duration

2m–10m

Group size

2–100 people

Materials

none (uses thumbs)

Origin

Community

How to run it

1
State the proposal or question clearly.
2
Count down '3-2-1' and have everyone show their thumb simultaneously.
3
Thumbs up = support, thumbs sideways = neutral, thumbs down = oppose or need to discuss.
4
If unanimous thumbs up: proceed.
5
If any thumbs sideways/down: invite those people to briefly state their concern.
6
Revise the proposal if needed and re-vote.

Tips

Best for straightforward yes/no decisions.
For nuanced decisions use Fist of Five instead.
Make voting simultaneous to avoid anchoring effects.

Variations

Use coloured cards (green/yellow/red) instead of thumbs for visibility in large groups. For remote teams use poll reactions (👍/➡️/👎).

Where it fits

Quick decisions in meetingsConsent rounds in sociocracyChecking energy levelsGo/no-go decisions

🪡

Plan your next workshop with AI

Workshop Weaver helps you combine methods like Roman Voting into a complete, timed agenda in minutes.

Try it free

Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices.