Here’s an opening activity that helps you to quickly identify the positive expectations of the participants.
Synopsis
Ask the participants to individually write down a wish list of three positive expectations for the training session. Later, ask volunteers to predict the most frequently written expectation. Count the number of participants who have written different predicted expectations. Discuss how to achieve these expectations.
Purpose
To identify positive expectations for the training session.
Participants
Minimum: 3
Maximum: Any number.
Best: 12 to 30
Time
15 to 50 minutes
Supplies
Paper
Pens
Flow
Explain the task. Ask the participants to think about the ensuing training session. Invite them to envision what they would like to experience during the session. Ask each one of them to write three short sentences describing their positive expectations.
Exchange the wish list. Ask each participant to fold the piece of paper so that the three statements are hidden. Instruct them to repeatedly exchange the lists with other, without opening the pieces of paper. After a suitable period of time, blow a whistle and ask the participants to stop exchanging their wish lists.
Review the wishes. Ask the participants to open the piece of paper they are currently holding and review the three expectations. Pause for a suitable period of time.
Make a prediction. Invite any participant to predict the most popular expectation that would be written on most of the wish lists. This prediction need not be something they wrote or one that is found in the piece of paper they are holding.
Find the frequency. Ask any volunteer to announce his or her prediction. Ask all participants who have this expectation written in the list they have to stand up. Count the number of people standing up and announce the total.
Ask for more predictions. Ask all participants to sit down and invite any other volunteer to make an alternative prediction of a popular expectation. Repeat the process of counting the number of people who have this expectation in the list they currently have.
Find the winner. After a suitable number of predictions, identify the participant who made the most popular prediction and congratulate him or her as the winner.
Follow up. Conduct a brief discussion of popular expectations. Invite the participants to suggest what you could do and what they could do reach these expectations.