Free Decision Commitment Tracker
The anonymous way to stop false consensus and check if your team is truly on board.
No signup required • Anonymous responses • Results in 60 seconds
The HIPPO Problem: Why Teams Fake Agreement
The "Highest Paid Person's Opinion" (HIPPO) drives more decisions than data, logic, or team consensus ever will. When the boss speaks, people nod. Not because they agree—but because disagreeing feels risky.
This creates false consensus. Everyone leaves the meeting "aligned," but weeks later, the decision unravels. Tasks don't get prioritized. Execution feels half-hearted. Someone quietly undermines the plan because they never actually bought in.
The cost is enormous: wasted time on initiatives no one believes in, missed opportunities because doubt wasn't surfaced early, and eroded trust when decisions fail predictably.
The solution isn't better arguments—it's better measurement. Before you leave the room, check whether commitment is real or performative.
Why This Beats "Fist of Five" Voting
Traditional consensus-building methods like "Fist of Five" (holding up 1-5 fingers to show support) have a fatal flaw: they're public. People see what others vote before deciding their own stance.
Traditional Methods
- ✗Public voting creates social pressure
- ✗Requires everyone in the same room
- ✗Junior voices hesitate to disagree
- ✗No record of who said what
This Buy-In Checker
- ✓Anonymous responses reveal true sentiment
- ✓Works for remote and hybrid teams
- ✓Everyone's voice carries equal weight
- ✓Captures reasoning behind hesitation
The tool asks one simple question: "Would you defend this decision tomorrow?" Responses are anonymous, fast, and reveal patterns you'd never see in a public vote.
When to Check Team Commitment
Go/No-Go Decisions
Before launching a product, feature, or campaign, verify that the team genuinely believes it's ready—not just that no one objected in the meeting.
Feature Prioritization
After ranking features or roadmap items, check whether the team actually supports the prioritization or is just deferring to the loudest voice.
Budget Approvals
When allocating significant resources, surface concerns about ROI or feasibility before money is spent and momentum is irreversible.
Strategic Pivots
Major direction changes require genuine buy-in. Use this to identify who needs more context or has unresolved doubts before executing.
Hiring Decisions
After final-round interviews, check whether the team truly wants to make an offer or if someone has unvoiced reservations.
Process Changes
New workflows or tools only succeed if people commit to adopting them. Measure buy-in before rolling out changes.
Ready to Check Your Team's Commitment?
Enter your decision and get a shareable link. See results as soon as your team responds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you measure team buy-in?
Effective buy-in measurement requires anonymous feedback collected immediately after a decision. Ask team members if they would defend the decision tomorrow, and look for patterns in hesitation or concerns. Public voting creates social pressure that masks true sentiment. Anonymous digital tools reveal genuine commitment levels.
What is the false consensus effect?
The false consensus effect occurs when people overestimate how much others agree with them. In meetings, this manifests as everyone nodding along to avoid conflict, creating the illusion of unanimous support. Later, the decision fails because no one was actually committed. Measuring buy-in anonymously breaks this pattern by surfacing hidden doubts.
What are free alternatives to dot voting?
Digital buy-in checkers and anonymous polling tools offer advantages over traditional dot voting. Unlike physical dot voting, digital tools work for remote teams, preserve anonymity, capture reasoning behind votes, and provide permanent records. This buy-in checker specifically focuses on commitment rather than just preference.
How long does the buy-in check take?
Each team member needs about 60 seconds to respond. Results appear instantly as responses come in. The entire process—from creating the session to viewing results—takes less than 2 minutes for most teams.
Do responses stay anonymous?
Yes. Responses are completely anonymous to encourage honest feedback. The tool shows aggregate patterns (how many said yes/unsure/no) and displays anonymized reasoning, but never reveals who said what. This removes social pressure and reveals true sentiment.
What question does the tool ask?
The tool asks: "Would you defend this decision tomorrow?" This phrasing is intentionally forward-looking and personal. It forces people to imagine actually advocating for the decision, which reveals genuine commitment better than abstract agreement scales.
Do I need to create an account?
No. The tool is completely free and requires no signup. Enter your decision, get a shareable link, and view results immediately. Sessions are temporary and disposable—use it as often as needed without any friction.