Planning Poker

The team's nodding along to estimates that one person suggested. Nobody's challenged them. The sprint starts with hidden disagreements baked in.

Planning Poker is a consensus-based estimation technique where team members simultaneously reveal cards showing their estimate, then discuss the divergences. You use a Fibonacci-like sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 40, 100) — the widening gaps reflect the growing uncertainty of larger items. The simultaneous reveal prevents anchoring.