Technology has transformed the training world in many ways. With all the new developments in how training is delivered, it can be difficult to hone in on which methods can be most effective. One of the most powerful mediums out there for role-play training is video. There’s no training tool as powerful as seeing yourself on video. People are more affected by watching themselves for a few minutes than by spending hours in the classroom.
Video provides a heightened sense of reality. Prior to incorporating video in role-play scenarios, a common practice was to have participants partner up and practice with each other. However, there are a number of variables in this approach that can affect its success. How effective is your partner? How good is the script? There’s little accountability in such a method.
When the lights are on and people are under pressure, everything changes. Video doesn’t lie. Will the participant freeze up on camera? What the participant does right—or wrong—is right out there in the open. Once participants see themselves, the power of that experience can truly affect their ability to make changes. The trainer also can coach them with more precision and help them get more out of the session. There’s more accountability for learning when video is part of the equation.
In business, you never have an opportunity to “see” yourself. The ability to capture that and have participants see themselves allows for reflection in a number of ways: They can see how they act versus guessing. Video creates a lasting impact. When they see themselves, they’re more motivated to make changes, versus when they attend the typical classroom type of training.
Tips to Keep in Mind
Want to try incorporate video in your next role-play session? Here are some tips to use in your own video role-play exercises/training:
- Make sure to have good quality audio/video systems in place. Don’t just take out your phone and start shooting. However, a handheld camera may work fine.
- Think through the pre-work portion of the exercise before jumping in. If you have someone playing the role of the other side, they need to be well-versed in the material. Otherwise, the training won’t be “real” enough. Sometimes, you can even hire an actor to learn the material and play that role.
- If you can use a real-world scenario in your role-play, it can be powerful. Say, for example, you’re trying to close a multi-million-dollar deal. Use this information to create a scenario to give participants the experience of walking through it so that when they go into the actual meeting, they’re much better prepared.
- Even a small amount of video, say five to 10 minutes, is like a lifetime when it comes to coaching. A short snippet of a participant role-playing tells the trainer a lot about how participants handle themselves. This can help the trainer work wonders.
- Having a process in place is mandatory. Maybe the plan includes a round of being filmed, followed by coaching, and then filming again. This makes it an effective use of time. If participants are able to see improvement, it can be particularly powerful, so provide an opportunity for that to happen.
Using video in role-play may be becoming more widespread, but be sure to think through a process before trying it on your own. The power of video is something to harness and leverage to your advantage. It can bring about true change when used the right way.
Todd Lenhart is president of SNI. He has more than 15 years of experience in the areas of sales, negotiation, organizational development, and finance. At SNI, Lenhart has implemented training solutions across a variety of Fortune 1000 clients, including Verizon Business, ESPN, Sherwin Williams, T. Rowe Price, Bank of America, Allied Capital, Sanofi-aventis, Comcast, W.L. Gore & Associates, and Ecolab. A member of the Maryland Society of CPAs, Lenhart has combined his financial background with his sales skills to deliver strong results to clients and employers alike. Prior to SNI, Lenhart held a 10-year tenure with professional services staffing firm Allegis Group. During his time at Allegis, Lenhart served in the roles of Chief Learning Officer, vice president of Sales, vice president of Finance, and vice president of Business Development.
