I would like to open a training session on establishing expectations with a fun story to relate back to the subject of the need for expectations exchanges. Any suggestions? Thank you!

I don't know the context of the story you are looking for, but try this web site: http://www.businessballs.com/

Select Stories from the list, there is a few in there about expectations.

Try to think about your own stories to use. This is the key to great presenting. I've done a workshop on this topic and would be happy to talk you through the concept on the phone.

Just got back from DC from the BIG event and with a client tomorrow, back in my office Friday or next Monday.

Best,

Here is a possible exercise.

Show a series of realistic and unrealistic exceptions all mixed up in one list. Ask the delegates to go through the list and identify which one is realistic and which one is not. The exercise will generate lots of laughter but the important learning point is to encourage the delegates to understand that it is better to have an expectation than none at all, but at the same time not to have an unrealistic expectation that can lead to wasting their resources.

Amusingly, you can find lots of "unrealistic expectations" on google. Here is a funny list: unreal

You can also get more free soft skills exercises here.

What are unrealistic expectations in real life?

Was "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." in 1671 unrealistic? It seemed like that to many people then that it was. I was a kid, but I remember people thinking it was unrealistic.

Is "write a book in 14 days" unrealistic? It has been done multiple times.

While there are some clearly unrealistic expectations (balance the Empire State Building on the head of a pin), many are only unrealistic to those woo do not see the rules the same as the one with the expectations. So I think such a story needs to have outlandish expectations if it is to be meaningful. Otherwise those with different views may not see the expectations as truly unrealistic.

But then, how one views expectations would make a whole other story...