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What would you do?




Imagine this:

 You just got on a plane. It is going to be a long flight so you make yourself comfortable and take off your shoes. The seat-belt sign lights up and you lock your seat belt nice and tight as you watch the safety video on the screen in front of you. 

 Just as you trying to decide if you'll have the beef or chicken for dinner, the plane starts moving and drives slowly to the runway. You hear the engines roaring as the plane seems to be ready to leave. However, the captain has one quick message:

 "Uhm. Good afternoon ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking. Welcome on board of flight 724 to Amsterdam. I wish to inform you all that this will be my very first time flying an airplane and yes... I am a bit nervous. But not to worry. I have read two books on the art of flying and I have successfully completed a questionnaire on the matter, so I'm pretty sure we are going to be fine. (awkward silence) ... Ok. Well... I would like to wish you all a good flight."

 How would you feel?

 If people ask me why they should use a corporate actor in their training workshops, I like to tell them the story above. Because what this pilot needs, is also what participants often require:  

 The flight simulator.

 What does 'being a flight simulator' mean?

 Sadly, in most instructor-led training sessions, too much time is spent on lecture and sharing information rather than practice and hands-on exploration of the material. Corporate actors close this gap by letting participants practice new behaviors in a safe to fail environment, meaning they won't have to "fly that plane" straight away. 

 How does this work?

 At InterACT we let people engage in face to face simulations of real workplace interactions. And every time we do this, people are blown away by the reality of the experience. It allows participants to put theory into practice and they can safely practice new behaviors. With our powerful and personalized feedback people learn to appreciate the impact of their actions, without risking relationships or reputation. 

 Dave Meier, founder of the Center of Accelerated Learning once said: “Learning is creation, not consumption. Only what the learner creates is ever really learned.” And I couldn't agree more. That is why at InterACT we design all role play scenario's together with our participants. Whether it is a one on one role play session as part of a personal coaching or if it is a group case scenario during a leadership development program: We create customized, true learning experiences.  

 So do you send your staff out to fly airplanes without any proper practice?Or do you feel like you are about to fly a plane without having been on the flight simulator?

Contact me here for a complementary information session. 
   


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