4 Responses

1. Top tips for using role play
   Hi Shona,
   Can give you some good ideas how to structure your role plays and how to write your scenario briefs if you let me know what your learning objectives are.
   Regards,
   Erica

2. Reconsider using role plays
   I am involved in Sales Training and have found role plays to be totally unhelpful. A study showed that people were more resistant to changing their behaviour after a role play than they were before it and that study confirmed my experience. They found 2 common themes. First of all when the participant performed well in the role play they no longer believed they need to change! When the person performed badly in the role play every single one blamed the role play and the falseness of the situation.
   Why don’t you allow practice sessions (without critique) or use simulations rather than role plays?

3. Role Play Materials
   Shona

   I have a very high regard for David Yule from his postings elsewhere, but I am afraid I don’t agree with his broad conclusions here on their lack of effectiveness! (Maybe it is all about *how* they are used?)

   I use a very wide range, especially for inter-personal/management development work, as well as specific sales, purchasing, HR/IR training – and can give you some ideas if you would like to contact me directly with more info? (To say more here may look like advertising!)

   Kind regards
   Jeremy
   (Author of ‘How To Negotiate Better Deals’ which includes several role play scenarios if that helps; ‘The First-Time Sales Manager’; ‘Developing Your Career in Management’ etc

4. Role Plays
   Jeremy
   Thanks for the comments, I seem to have stirred some interest which is good. I do think there must be different qualities of role play and some must be better then others. There do seem to be some critical issues:
   1) Briefing of the role players.
   2) Objective feedback from the role players, what they heard and observed rather than what they felt about it.
   3) Allowing practice sessions rather than critiqued sessions
   4) I would question observing role plays (even on CCTV)as the act of observation changes the experience.
   My comment really was not to say all role plays are bad but rather I feel there are better ways of achieving a the same objectives in a more effective fashion. The objective being behaviour change.
   I would like a copy of your book however (I see it at Amazon) can I buy a signed one from you?
   David