How much would you pay for a dollar?
In my seminars and speeches, I sometimes use audience participation to drive home a point or to interrupt the “I’ve heard it all before” mind-set. It is important to put what follows in the context of problem solving or conflict. An example would be with a contentious team or when discussing the issue of Band-Aiding a problem or fixing it right the first time. You have my blessing to use the exercise if you promise to not let the cat out of the bag if I you ever have the pleasant experience of being in my audience or class.
“I am going to auction off a dollar bill. Here it is: a real greenback. There is a slight catch; the second highest bidder also has to pay me. Does everyone understand the rules? Who will start with a nickel?”
(If someone starts with a dollar, explain that some folks would like to make some money and you would like an opening with a nickel or a dime.)
“Great, you have a bargain. Is there anyone who can bid a dime?” At his point, I’ll usually get a dime and someone else will chip in with a quarter. If not, get into the audience and goad people into bidding higher. The more bidders, the merrier, although my experience is that it quickly becomes two bidders.
I now go back to the dime person and say, “You are now out a dime. Be the higher bidder and you are ahead.” Or, I will say, “Are all of you going to let this guy have 75 cents when you could get into the process?” Someone will enter the fray. You have to keep going to the lower bidder to goad them into going higher. Use words like pride, loser, power, winner, make easy money, etc.
When two people are over 50 cents each, someone will make the astute observation that you are now ahead, making money. Ignore it. Keep after the bidders by telling the lower bidder “are you going to let the other bidder get away with you holding the bag?”
At some point, each will realize what they are doing. Most times, the bids will go over a dollar if you work them. When one finally quits, it is lesson time. (Do not collect, but give the dollar to the highest bidder.) Ask them and the audience to explain what was going on.
They are trying to reduce their losses by raising the ante, getting more costly for both at the same time. Is pride an element? Was your constant harassment a factor? Is winning at any cost a mind-set?
Can they relate this experience to real life? We see it every day - from not being upfront with other people to telling half truths, making assumptions, getting our backs up against the wall, winning at any cost, labor grievances, not disclosing information, distrusting, looking good at someone else’s expense, arguments, compromising and so on.
Seek out examples in the workplace.
To close, tell them, “Sometimes Joe will lean over to Helen and say, ‘You bid a nickel and I’ll bid a quarter and we stop bidding.’” This is a win-win situation and leads you to discussing what usually happens and the lessons from above. What the two bidders have done this time is demonstrate that it is possible to buy a dollar for less than a dollar, and all the emotional and personal baggage can be eliminated if there is direct communication between the parties with a desire to get it behind and move on.
In most cases of conflict, it is important to revisit the facts and causes without the blame finger to gain understanding before deciding to expend ever more energy and resources trying to resolve a problem which gets ever larger. This is why there are mediators, arbitrators, psychologists and really effective leaders. Otherwise, damage control overcomes moving ahead and may be the demise of a person’s career or even the existence of a corporation. An opening bid of $1 would replicate one of two parties possibly realizing they are the problem and from the outset deciding to seek a correct solution.
I have sold the dollar for as much as $3.50. The professor who introduced this to me used a $10 bill in a bar and quickly left after earning $15. Good luck: People should remember this as more than a game. They see themselves and their organization in the example.
If you want some pointers on doing this exercise, send me an e-mail at rmgallaher@att.net.
Add your comments to this blog and let me know your own unique ways of driving points home to your workforce or co-workers.
What exercises have you used? What exercises have you been a part of?
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Filed Under: People Management | Tags: employee engagement, mentoring, training
