MAY 2025HR TECH OUTLOOK19AVOID THE DREADED ROLE PLAY: DIY SIMULATIONS IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTCXOInsightsIt is hard to prepare leaders for all the different scenarios they may encounter in the corporate world. Trainers and facilitators use many techniques to ensure people can actively participate in the learning process, and among the most used are role play and case studies. These two methods teach skills to handle specific scenarios that frequently occur in real life, should it happen to them. While both are designed to allow learners to practice skills in a safe environment, there are many pitfalls that can stand in the way of people successfully applying a new tool or technique that is being taught. First is that real life rarely follows a path that can be neatly packaged into a half or full day training event. In reality, many people may have already run across the situation, and it was handled in many ways except how the facilitator said it should be handled.Case studies and role play rely on good storytelling techniques in the way the scenario is presented and how it relates to the content from the instructor. It is also important that the outcome be memorable, have some elements of entertainment, and be relevant to their job or what they see on a daily basis. It's also important not to give too much detail so the solutions become obvious. Many trainers and designers don't have the skill set developed to create scenarios that match these criteria. Some specific challenges of each method are presented in Table 1 below. Both share some commonalities:1. Developing scenarios can be time-consuming for trainers2. Replicating real-time decision-making can be difficult3. Resistance from participants can be present in both cases4. Both rely heavily on the written word, which can may not capture learner attentionColleen Berish, Director of Learning and Development, FCCI Insurance GroupRole PlayCase StudiesPeople are so uncomfortable they can't focus on the role playProvide real life scenarios without the real life consequencesPeople try too hard to make it difficult for the person they are role playing withScenario is limited to one conclusion ­ decisions are hard to re-evaluate and updateCharacters are frequently larger than life and overly dramaticReal life rarely follows a static path or solutionLack of opportunity to continue to practice the skillGroups may not always allow for diverse opinionsParticipants fall into how they would act rather than applying the concepts being taughtWord based without visuals or inflectionsLack of effective feedback from trainers prevents learners from seeing what went well and what could have gone betterAre sometimes over-simplified to fit into the training timeframeDoes not allow all personality types to participate (i.e., introverts who need time to think)Hard to measure effectivenessTable 1An alternative to role play and case studies is a simulation exercise. Although simulation exercises have some of the same characteristics as case studies and role play, there are some significant differences that can be a game changer in the world of learning and development.By
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