The “C” Jar
An Exercise For Level 1 Change
Developed By: Bob Sattler
Purpose Of Exercise: To demonstrate how people have the ability to make change without permission of someone else
Time: Throughout the 2-day PCT Training
Materials Needed: Small glass jar with lid; “C” Jar label for jar; fun size packets of M&Ms (one for each class participant, and some extra just in case)
Set Up: Presented after discussion of Level 1 Change slide. Tell people they are now going to have the opportunity to practice Level 1 Change. Have someone hand out M&Ms. While these are handed out, tell them they are NOT to eat them!
Ask people what a token economy is. Many people will talk about positive economies (being rewarded with an item for doing a desired task). Ask them what a negative token economy is (taking something away from someone for doing something they shouldn’t). Once they have indicated what the negative economy is (or you have told them), tell them they will be practicing a negative economy with their M&Ms.
Pull out your “C” Jar and tell people that every time they use a “C” word they will need to put an M&M in your jar. Now tell them what a “C” word is . . .
The “C” words are Client, Customer, Consumer. Ask people what these words mean in the general public. Many people will respond with system answers. The answer you are looking for is PEOPLE HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY WANT TO PURCHASE. Once the answer has been established (either by the group or you) give some examples: If I don’t like what Kmart has to offer, I can go to Target. If I don’t like my accountant, I’ll find another. Ask if people in services can do that. Can they choose their staff? Can they change Case Managers if they don’t like their current one? Many times the answer will be no. If that is the case, then we shouldn’t be using the “C” words until people have the power behind the word. The words themselves aren’t bad, we’ve just forgotten the meaning behind them. Therefore we should be calling people . . . PEOPLE (or by their name).
This can stir some controversy (starting to create a level of discontent in the crowd – hopefully optimistic).
Tell people they have control over their language and don’t need to ask permission to do it . . . a LEVEL 1 CHANGE!
So, every time someone uses the “C” words they need to give up an M&M into the jar over the next two days. Have the jar at the front of the room, so people have to make the “public walk of shame”
Count the M&Ms at the end of each day.
Result: It will start a little slow, but will catch on and people will begin policing each other (especially after the first M&M is dropped). People begin to have fun with it and start to make the change. Make sure this is fun and not punitive. You want to make the point in a humorous manner so people remember it.
If you are doing the training for one organization, you may want to leave the jar with them so they can keep it going agency-wide.
The words have become so ingrained in our culture that often we don’t notice it. However, through this exercise, it brings language to the forefront. Many times I will go back to an agency and they remember the exercise and make a conscious effort to change how they refer to people.
A Little Background: Why use M&Ms: Remember when M&Ms were used as the reinforcers for people with DD? Every time they did something good, they were rewarded with an M&M. So what did we end up with? Overweight people, who love chocolate and have bad teeth and diabetes!!
How Can This Be Used: When I was operating my own agency, we had the “C” jar to change language within the organization. Every time the words were used, people had to put in a quarter. Result . . . hellacious happy hours!! (and better language when referring to people served)