# 1. The Book Club Picker
Book clubs die when one person always picks the book. Create a 'Reading List' jar and invite your club. Each month, everyone adds 1-2 book suggestions, then run a Squad Vote. The winner is the next read. No debates, no guilt trips, no awkward 'Well, I guess we could read that...'. The jar becomes a democratic librarian.
# 2. The Fantasy Draft Night
Planning a group trip? Don't let the loudest voice pick every restaurant and activity. Create a 'Trip Jar' and have everyone add their must-do experiences. Then run Squad Votes for each day's itinerary. The quiet introvert's suggestion gets the same stage as the group organizer's—and you'll discover hidden gems you'd never have found otherwise.
# 3. The Sprint Retro Icebreaker
Agile teams are using Squad Mode to pick retrospective formats. Instead of the same 'What went well / What didn't' template, fill a jar with creative retro formats: 'Sailboat', '4Ls', 'Speed Car', 'Mad Sad Glad'. Let the team vote on this sprint's format. It keeps retros fresh and signals that every team member's preference matters.
# 4. The Flatmate Mediator
Living with 3+ people? Squad Mode turns passive-aggressive fridge notes into structured decisions. 'Should we get a dishwasher?', 'Movie night picks', 'Who hosts the next gathering?'—all resolved with a vote instead of a group chat that devolves into seen-but-not-replied silence. The key insight: when 'the system' decides, nobody feels singled out.
# 5. The Secret Santa Organizer
This one surprises people. Create a 'Gift Exchange' jar with activity ideas instead of specific gifts. Squad members vote on the type of exchange: 'White Elephant', 'Handmade Only', '$20 Budget', or 'Experience Gifts'. The winning format becomes the rule. It sidesteps the annual 'What should the budget be?' email chain entirely.
Q&A
How many people do I need for Squad Mode?
Squad Mode requires at least 3 active members. With only 2, the system automatically switches back to Random Spin, since you can't vote on your own ideas.
Can I use Squad Mode for work decisions?
Absolutely. Teams use it for sprint retrospectives, lunch orders, and team bonding activity selection. The anonymity of votes removes office politics from the equation.
What happens if someone doesn't vote?
The voting round waits for all squad members. Admins can set an optional timer to auto-close the round after a configurable deadline.
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