Straw polls are so called because it's like holding up pieces of straw and dropping them to see which way the wind blows them. It's informal and non-binding, and a great way for a decision-maker to get quick sense for a group's majority opinion.

This template shows you the steps you can take. The last step after the Straw Poll itself is the Decider Vote. Who is the Decider? It is a leader, or someone who is invited to your session at the end, to avoid situations where the group is overly influenced by the Decider, or if they make a decision and then the Decider overrules them. In some organizations, this role is the manager, executive, or even a board member. In some organizations a team has the autonomy to decide, rather than a single decision-maker outside of the team; it depends on the set-up and environment of your team.

• Increased participation, empowerment and engagement
• A clear and concise summary of opinions on the topic
• Transparency in the decision-making process
• Save time