Vanishing Options
When faced with a decision, we often rush to make it so we can feel certain again. With this process, we end up just considering those options that come up with on the spot. As such, we go along a certain trajectory that fails to explore other avenues.
But the things is, the best decision might be the one that we haven’t considered yet. To avoid this pitfall, use the Vanishing Option test.
One version of Vanishing Options works this way – once your team has generated a list of possible solutions, tell them they can’t select any of the solutions on their list and challenge them to come up with additional options. This way, the team will start to dig beyond their first instinctive responses.
Yet another way of doing the exercise is to assemble a range of choices – four or more options will do. Have participants vote and choose their desired option, delete the most popular, then have them vote again on the new slate of options. Below is how you can set it up –
Instructions
With a decision in mind that you want group input on, create a multiple choice with your options.
Have participants make their choice; make sure to limit everyone to one vote.
Once all votes are in, display the results.
Redo the selection process, this time taking out the choice that stood out earlier (you an also choose any of the options).
Do this methodically, with the goal being to see if an option vanishing dramatically shifts people’s opinions of the others.
Present the new choices, allow everyone to vote, then display the results.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you’ve gotten the information you need (e.g., a clear consensus, an ideal Plan B, fully ruled out one option).
After each round of selection, ask if there a clear winner, a clear loser, or if the votes evenly split. You can also ask if the distribution of responses to a choice is similar in a next round, or if the team uncover something new out of the results of the updated selection. Needless to say, allow the outcome of each round to clarify or inform your next move.