When to run a confidence vote
- End of sprint planning: "How confident are we that we can finish everything we just committed to?"
- Before a release date: check whether the team believes the date before it goes to stakeholders.
- After a big decision: confirm the team is actually bought in, not just quiet.
- Mid-sprint check-in: a falling score is an early warning that scope or blockers need attention.
Reading the result
A high average with tight agreement means the team is ready. A moderate average usually hides one or two specific concerns worth naming. A low average, or a wide spread between the highest and lowest votes, means the plan needs to change before anyone commits to it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a confidence vote?
A confidence vote (sometimes called a fist of five) asks everyone on the team to rate, from 1 to 5, how confident they are that a plan will succeed. It surfaces doubts that people might not raise in open discussion.
When should I run a Confidence Pulse?
At the end of sprint planning, before committing to a release date, or before signing off on any decision where hidden concerns would be costly. It takes a couple of minutes.
Can people see how others voted?
Votes stay hidden until they are revealed, so early votes do not anchor the rest of the team.
Do participants need an account?
No. Create a room, share the link or room code, and your team joins with just a name.
Can I switch to planning poker in the same room?
Yes. You can switch between Confidence Pulse and planning poker from inside the room without making a new one.
Related tools
- Planning Poker - estimate story points together
- Check-In Question Generator - open retros and standups
- Sprint Velocity Calculator - forecast what the team can deliver