Most participants come to meetings with conscious or unconscious expectations. Very often, these expectations become self-fulfilling prophecies. This activity exposes different expectations and explores how to become more optimistic about the probable outcomes of the meeting.

Synopsis

The participants anonymously indicate their expectations for the meeting on a seven-point scale. They compute both the average and the range of ratings and discuss why the outliers felt optimistic or pessimistic. They come up with ideas for achieving positive outcomes and share it with a partner.

Purpose

To encourage the participants to begin a meeting with optimistic expectations

Participants

Minimum: 2

Maximum: Any number

Best: 5–20

Time

10–20 minutes

Supplies and Equipment

• Flip chart
• Small pieces of paper
• Pens
• Calculator

Flow

Brief the participants. Present the goals and the agenda for the next meeting. Ask the participants to think of the probable outcomes of this meeting.

Project the expectation scale. Use the flip chart (or project a slide) to present this seven-point expectation scale regarding the probable outcomes of the meeting:

• 1 = Extremely useless results
• 2 = Useless results
• 3 = Slightly useless results
• 4 = Neutral results
• 5 = Slightly useful results
• 6 = Useful results
• 7 = Extremely useful results

Point out that “1” reflects the most negative expectation and “7” the most positive expectation.

Give anonymous ratings. Ask each participant to secretly write down a number from 1 to 7 on a small piece of paper to indicate his or her personal expectations. Assure the participants that their rating will remain confidential.

Compute the statistics. Collect the pieces of paper and ask one or two participants to compute the average (using a calculator as needed). Also ask them to note the lowest and the highest ratings.

Announce the results. Ask the person (or persons) who did the calculations to announce the average rating and the lowest and highest values.

Reflect on the results. Ask the participants to think about the average and the range of ratings. Ask them to speculate why different people have different expectations.

Brainstorm ways to increase optimism. Share with the participants that the expectations may become self-fulfilling prophecies. Conduct a brainstorming activity to increase the level of optimism about the outcomes of the meeting. Ask the participants to pair up with someone else and share their strategies for achieving optimism.

Link to the Meeting

Heighten your optimism. Ask the participants to remember the techniques for increasing their optimism about the outcomes of the meeting. Encourage them to apply these techniques during the actual meeting.