10 Fun Ways to Make Group Decisions (Beyond Flipping a Coin)

We have all been there. You are standing with a group of friends outside a row of restaurants, and nobody can agree on where to eat. Or your team is in a meeting trying to decide who takes on a particular task, and the room falls into an awkward silence. Or your family is planning a holiday trip and everyone has a different destination in mind. Group decisions are one of the most common friction points in human life, and yet most people default to the same tired methods: argue until someone caves, or flip a coin.

But here is the thing -- making group decisions does not have to be painful. In fact, it can be one of the most entertaining parts of any gathering if you use the right method. Across cultures and centuries, people have invented dozens of creative ways to make fair random selections that turn the decision itself into a shared experience. In this article, we explore ten of the best methods, explain when each one shines, and show you how to make every group decision a moment worth remembering.

1. The Ladder Game (사다리타기 / Sadari)

If there is one method that deserves to be better known outside of Korea, it is the ladder game. Known as 사다리타기 (sadari-tagi, literally "ladder riding"), this game has been a cornerstone of Korean group culture for generations. It appears on virtually every Korean variety show, in classrooms, at company dinners, and at family gatherings.

The concept is beautifully simple. Draw one vertical line for each participant, side by side. Add random horizontal rungs between adjacent lines. Each person starts at the top of their line and traces downward, following every horizontal rung they encounter. The result at the bottom is their assignment.

What makes sadari special is its mathematical elegance: the game creates a perfect permutation, meaning every starting position maps to exactly one unique ending position. Nobody shares an outcome, and nobody is skipped. The result is provably fair, yet the visual tracing of paths creates genuine suspense and drama.

2. The Spinning Wheel

Spinning wheels (also called prize wheels or wheels of fortune) are a universally recognized decision-making tool. The concept is ancient, but digital spinning wheels have made them more accessible and customizable than ever. You enter your options, spin the wheel, and watch it slow down to a stop on a random selection.

The spinning wheel's greatest strength is its visual drama. The gradual deceleration as the wheel slows creates a crescendo of anticipation that few other methods can match. This makes it ideal for situations where the entertainment value of the selection process matters as much as the outcome itself -- party games, classroom activities, or any gathering where you want to build excitement.

However, spinning wheels have a notable limitation: they only select one option per spin. If you need to assign five different tasks to five people, you would need to spin five times (and remove selected options each time). The ladder game handles multi-person assignments in a single round, which is why it often works better for group assignments.

3. Drawing Straws (제비뽑기)

Drawing straws is perhaps the oldest random selection method still in active use. The premise is timeless: one person holds a collection of straws (or sticks, or strips of paper) of varying lengths, with the tops visible but the bottoms hidden. Each participant draws one. The person who draws the shortest (or longest, or marked) straw is the "chosen" one.

In Korean culture, a similar concept exists called 제비뽑기 (jebi-ppopgi), which translates roughly to "drawing lots." This method is commonly used in Korean schools to assign seats, select class representatives, or determine the order of student presentations. The physical act of drawing creates a tangible moment of commitment -- once you have pulled a straw, the decision is made.

Drawing straws works best in person, since the physical element is central to its appeal. It requires minimal preparation (any set of objects with a hidden distinguishing feature will do) and zero technology. Its main disadvantage is that it typically produces a binary outcome -- one person is "chosen" and everyone else is not -- rather than assigning unique outcomes to each participant.

4. The Classic Coin Flip

The coin flip is the simplest decision-making tool in existence. Two options, one coin, a single flip. It is fast, universally understood, and requires no explanation. For binary decisions between two people or two options, it is hard to beat.

That said, coin flips have real limitations. They only work for two options (or two groups). Extending them to three or more choices requires multiple rounds, which feels clunky. They also lack the social drama of other methods -- the flip happens in an instant, leaving no time for shared anticipation. And in an interesting psychological twist, research has shown that the moment a coin is in the air, people often realize which outcome they are secretly hoping for. That itself can be a useful decision-making insight.

5. Rock, Paper, Scissors (가위바위보)

Known as 가위바위보 (gawi-bawi-bo) in Korean, rock-paper-scissors is a staple of Korean culture that extends far beyond childhood. In Korea, it is used for everything from settling playground disputes to determining restaurant bills among adults. Korean variety shows frequently feature elaborate rock-paper-scissors tournaments with real stakes.

The beauty of rock-paper-scissors lies in its blend of randomness and psychology. While mathematically, a random strategy yields a 33.3% win rate for each outcome, human players are not random. Experienced players read their opponents' tendencies, look for patterns, and attempt to outthink each other. This psychological element transforms a simple game into a surprisingly deep strategic contest.

For group decisions, rock-paper-scissors works well in tournament format: pair up participants, have each pair play, and the losers are eliminated. Continue until one person remains. The physical energy of the simultaneous reveal ("gawi, bawi, bo!") and the rapid-fire pace make it one of the most engaging decision methods for in-person groups.

6. Random Number Generator

The digital age has given us the simplest possible random selection tool: ask a computer to pick a number. Every smartphone has a calculator that can generate random numbers, and countless apps and websites are dedicated to exactly this purpose. Assign each person or option a number, generate a random number, and the corresponding person is selected.

Random number generators are perfectly fair from a mathematical standpoint. They are fast, work for any group size, and can be used remotely. Their weakness is that they are, frankly, boring. There is no drama, no visual spectacle, and no shared experience beyond glancing at a screen. When efficiency is all that matters, they are ideal. When the process itself matters, other methods win.

7. Hat Draw (Names from a Hat)

Writing names on slips of paper, tossing them into a hat, and drawing them out one by one is a method as old as literacy itself. Its enduring popularity comes from its tangibility and transparency. Everyone can see the names go in, everyone can see the hat being shaken, and everyone can see the draw happen in real time. This transparency builds trust in a way that digital methods sometimes cannot.

Hat draws are especially effective for sequential selections: drawing names to determine an order (who presents first, second, third) or pairing people up (drawing two names at a time for teams). The physical ritual of reaching into a hat adds a ceremonial quality that elevates the moment.

8. Dice Rolling

Dice have been used for random decisions for at least 5,000 years, making them one of humanity's oldest randomization tools. The satisfying clatter of dice on a table, the moment of watching them tumble to a stop, and the universal understanding of how they work make dice an excellent group decision tool.

For group decisions, the simplest approach is "highest roll wins" -- everyone rolls a die (or pair of dice), and the highest number determines the winner. Ties get a re-roll. Dice can also assign multiple outcomes: roll to determine order (highest goes first, next highest goes second, and so on).

The main constraint is that standard six-sided dice only produce six distinct outcomes, which limits their utility for large groups or many options. Specialty dice (d20s from tabletop gaming, for example) expand the range significantly. Digital dice rollers remove the physical constraint entirely.

9. Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (Counting Rhymes)

Counting rhymes are a universal feature of childhood across cultures. The English "eeny meeny miny moe," the Korean "돌, 돌, 돌, 돌림판" and countless other variations serve the same purpose: systematically eliminating candidates through a rhythmic counting process until one remains.

The appeal of counting rhymes is entirely social. They are participatory (everyone stands in a circle while the counter points), rhythmic (the chant creates a shared tempo), and nostalgic (adults who play them are reconnecting with childhood). They are also inherently comical when used by adults for serious decisions, which adds a layer of humor to any gathering.

The fairness of counting rhymes is debatable -- a skilled "counter" can manipulate the starting point or pace to influence the outcome. For truly fair selections, other methods are preferable. But when the goal is laughter and shared experience rather than mathematical rigor, counting rhymes are hard to beat.

10. Voting with a Twist

Sometimes the group's preference should influence the decision, but a straight majority vote feels too serious or divisive. Enter "voting with a twist" -- methods that blend group preferences with randomness. Examples include:

• Weighted random: Everyone votes for their preferred option, and the votes become weights in a random draw. More popular options are more likely to win, but nothing is guaranteed.
• Approval voting + random: Everyone approves all options they would be happy with. Options with zero approvals are eliminated, and a random method (ladder game, spinning wheel, etc.) selects from the remaining options.
• Veto round + random: Each person gets one veto to eliminate their least favorite option. The remaining options go into a random draw.

These hybrid approaches work exceptionally well for restaurant selection, movie night choices, or vacation destination decisions. They ensure nobody ends up with an outcome that nobody wanted, while still maintaining the fun and unpredictability of random selection.

Choosing the Right Method: A Quick Guide

With so many options, how do you pick the right decision-making method for your situation? Here is a simple framework:

• Need to assign unique outcomes to everyone? Use the ladder game (sadari) or a hat draw.
• Selecting one option from a list? Use a spinning wheel, dice, or random number generator.
• Two-person or binary decision? Use a coin flip or rock-paper-scissors.
• Want maximum entertainment value? Use the ladder game, spinning wheel, or rock-paper-scissors tournament.
• Group has preferences they want reflected? Use voting with a twist.
• In person with no technology? Use drawing straws, dice, counting rhymes, or paper-based sadari.
• Remote group? Use the online ladder game, a digital spinning wheel, or a random number generator.

Making It Fun: The Secret Ingredient

Regardless of which method you choose, the secret to making group decisions fun lies in three principles:

1. Embrace the suspense. Do not rush the reveal. Whether it is tracing a ladder path, watching a wheel slow down, or unfolding a slip of paper, savor the moment of uncertainty. That shared anticipation is where the bonding happens.
2. Accept the result gracefully. The whole point of random selection is that everyone agreed to abide by chance. Celebrate winners, console losers, and move on with a smile. The game only works if everyone commits to the outcome.
3. Match the method to the mood. A formal office meeting calls for a quick, clean digital tool. A backyard barbecue calls for something physical and dramatic. Read the room and choose accordingly.

Conclusion

Group decisions do not have to be a source of conflict, awkwardness, or endless debate. With the right tool, they become a highlight of the gathering -- a shared moment of suspense, laughter, and good-natured drama. Whether you choose the mathematically elegant Korean ladder game, the theatrical spinning wheel, the ancient tradition of drawing straws, or the competitive thrill of rock-paper-scissors, the key is to choose a method that matches your group, your mood, and your context.

The next time your group faces a decision, skip the argument and make it a game. You might find that the process of deciding becomes just as memorable as whatever you decided on.

Want to try the ladder game for your next group decision? Head to Sadari.org and create a free ladder lottery in seconds. Fair, visual, and surprisingly fun.

← Back to Sadari.org