Exercise using the Pygmalion effect

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_effect)
Objective:
To show the importance of trusting oneself, the importance of a vision and purpose in
achieving a results.
Flow & Instructions:
- You divide the group of people in 2 smaller groups
- Each group receives a type of A4 paper (there are 2 types in total see page 2 and 3)
- You give 3 attributes. I have seen it with Round, Red and Hot
- You give instructions separately to the 2 groups
The best is to introduce the instructions in 2 different rooms and then put them together in
one, but it works as well with common instructions (in this case you just write down the
instructions on the pieces of paper).
One group (Lets say Group A), is instructed to write as many logical associations with
the attributes as possible (e.g round = apple, planet, football, etc.) and write associations
from different categories (not apple, mellon, cherry, etc.) and valid of course.
The second group (Group B) is instructed to find a minimum of 20 associations per
attribute. Time is limited for both groups to 1 min per word.
Then they do the exercise, the trainer reads out loud, the attributes, one by one, keeping the
time.
Then the facilitators gather the papers (into two different piles). They make an average for
each group.
Conclusion:
The Pygmalion effect refers to the fact that the group that received stretch instructions
(group B) will always do more associations (with 25-30% more then group A which is huge
and can be magnified if you stretch it throughout the years if you stretch your mind in
thinking that you can do something then the rates and difference increase a lot). For
example: if normally you can achieve 4 (to make it mathematical), if you are 25% better
each time, for 10 years you will achieve with 46 times more then initially.
And it is simply because the human being programs itself to believe that it can be possible to
find 12 logical associations. Actually it rarely happens that someone finds 12 associations,
valid and in different categories in 1 minute.
The debriefing can underline that:
The limits are just in our head, as we are not following our dreams because we think we are
not capable to do it and time after time, we stop dreaming.
The society around us doesnt help either, as it penalizes the ones that are dreamers, nave,
childish and think they can change the world. As a response, we retread into a safety net,
we defend our ego and status quo and always take minimal decisions.
In this way, life starts making choices in our name. When we realize what we did, it is usually
to late.
! This exercise can easily and practically show the difference in believing in your dream and
setting stretch goals and not.

Group A:
Write down as many associations as possible with the following attribute:
Attribute 1:_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Attribute 2:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Attribute 3:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Group B:
Write a minimum of 20 associations with the following attribute:

Attribute 1:___________

Attribute 2:___________

Attribute 3:___________

1.___________________
2. ___________________
3. ___________________
4. ___________________
5. ___________________
6. ___________________
7. ___________________
8. ___________________
9. ___________________
10. ___________________
11. ___________________
12. ___________________
13. ___________________
14. ___________________
15. ___________________
16. ___________________
17. ___________________
18. ___________________
19. ___________________
20. ___________________

1.___________________
2. ___________________
3. ___________________
4. ___________________
5. ___________________
6. ___________________
7. ___________________
8. ___________________
9. ___________________
10. ___________________
11. ___________________
12. ___________________
13. ___________________
14. ___________________
15. ___________________
16. ___________________
17. ___________________
18. ___________________
19. ___________________
20. ___________________

1.___________________
2. ___________________
3. ___________________
4. ___________________
5. ___________________
6. ___________________
7. ___________________
8. ___________________
9. ___________________
10. ___________________
11. ___________________
12. ___________________
13. ___________________
14. ___________________
15. ___________________
16. ___________________
17. ___________________
18. ___________________
19. ___________________
20. ___________________