Role-playing scenarios can go wrong and an otherwise useful scenario can end up becoming an awkward skit. Worse yet, a badly executed role-play activity could really be harmful to the confidence of the team members.
How Role Playing Scenarios Go Wrong
One of the major reasons why role-plays don't work out is because of the attitude or emotive state of the employees. What you must first realize is that many people are extremely nervous at the prospect of performing in front of other employees. Statistically speaking, more employees are afraid of speaking before a large group than they are of death! Not only must players contend with their fears, but they also may have had or heard of some bad experiences with these kinds of challenges. You as the trainer or manager must take steps to eliminate the fears of your employees. The participants must be more motivated on the project objective itself and not so unduly uneasy about how they appear to others.
What might assist is to be extremely clear in your presentation about what the objective of the role playing activity represents. The more complex the scenario the less entertaining it can likely be. If you hold off until one final "show" then naturally everyone will be terrified of performing. However, holding a few role-playing scenarios does well to demystify the experience, so that everyone wants to try the activity. Feel free to break down complex scenarios into more than one role-playing activity. There's no need to save time, if it is going to cause more confusion. You are not working with thespians here!
Tips on Conducting Role-Playing Activities
Usually role-playing scenarios don't go well when one or more employees don't know what they're supposed to be doing. Just because they may have a non specific suggestion from the team leader, does not mean they have enough to work with. These are not actors who can be given a situation and run with it—most employees will do exactly what you will and wait for more facts. Give each participant as much facts as they will need. Too little will leave a player scratching their head, while too much will be forgotten. Simplicity is the key here.
You might also allow your employees to solicit aid from other colleagues or to push a sort of "pause" button whenever they are stumped with a scenario. Remember that role-playing is largely a group activity and must not be considered a true performance, as if there was a way to fail this audition. It is for the benefit of all involved. Leaving the scenario open to comments lets everyone feel part of the process, and can perhaps ease some of the anxiety of participating in more scenarios to come. (If everyone else has tried it...I guess I must too!)
Role-playing is an effective practice that can assist build a team and teach new employees about the company. It merely requires that you as the team manager, guide new employees through the process.
www.Chillisauce.co.uk is a organization specializing in organizing exclusive team buildingexercises. All our team building exercises include a wide range of venues suitable for your team day and meeting and conference needs and a wide range of of activities such as Crystal challenge, it's a knockout, chocolate challenge,Go mad in the country.
|
Publish This Article
|
