Learning by doing - a unique Learning Theatre intervention

Interviews with employees have pointed out that many employees hate roleplays as they feel exposed, ridiculed and belittled and they doubt the value of the training as the scenarios are often extreme to the point of ridiculousness. A person entering a certain scenario therefore is already apprehensive and negative and the profit gained from the exercise is so little as to be negligible.

So why does the Learning Theatre believe that they can make a difference?

Simply put, preparation is key and the Learning Theatre has developed new ways of preparing employees for this kind of intervention.

• Firstly they make use of professional actors to do the roleplays according to set guidelines which are agreed upon by trainers and trainees beforehand.
• Secondly they make use of highly skilled trainers and facilitators to facilitate the sessions for maximum benefit.
• Thirdly the trainee is always assured that he or she is safe, physically as well as emotionally at all times.

Trainees are introduced to the process in an easygoing, relaxed fashion. They are also given "actor's tools" with which to cope with the demands of roleplaying. Once facilitators and actors are happy with the preparation of the trainees, they move on to the roleplaying itself. The whole process is continuously managed and observed by the trainers to ensure that trainees derive maximum benefit from the experience.

This remarkable tool has been used by The Learning Theatre for customer interface training in the callcentre arena, frontline staff as well as management opposite employees.

For more info go to: www.learningtheatre.co.za.