Perhaps you've heard this before: global spending on training exceeds $350 billion annually.
It is estimated that more than 15% of this amount goes toward developing 'soft skills,' with the majority focused on communication skills, coaching, feedback, conflict management, and self-awareness.
That's a substantial sum spent on improving people's interpersonal skills, leading to an increasing demand for a high return on investment. The logical next question is: what training method is most successful in implementing newly acquired knowledge into day-to-day workplace interactions?
Research consistently shows that one of the most effective ways to achieve success and a high return on investment is to simulate real experiences by incorporating role-play into training programs.
Role-play provides workshop participants with "in-the-moment" experiences, allowing them to experiment with new behaviours in a safe-to-fail setting. Unfortunately, many trainers and workshop facilitators still choose to use fellow students for role-play simulations instead of working with actors.
So, why should you opt for a role-play actor instead?
The answer is straightforward: a role-play actor is a professional, while a fellow student is not.
Still not convinced? Here are five reasons why hiring a role-play actor is preferable to using a fellow student:
1. **A Role-Play Actor Performs Realistically**
A role-play actor can convincingly portray various behaviours, which is much more challenging for fellow students who lack training and often exaggerate their performance. As a result, the role play may lack authenticity, leading to a less effective learning experience.
2. **A Role-Play Actor Engages Interactively**
A role-play actor responds to the learner's behaviour. If a student displays ineffective behaviour, the actor adjusts their response accordingly. This immediate feedback helps the student understand the effect of their actions. In contrast, fellow students tend to adhere rigidly to their roles, making them less responsive.
3. **A Role-Play Actor Tailors the Experience**
A role-play actor can adapt the difficulty level to suit the student’s needs. Fellow students are more likely to perform behaviours appropriate to themselves rather than attuning to the individual for whom the practice situation is designed.
4. **A Role-Play Actor Offers Constructive Feedback**
A professional role-player is a multitasker. While acting and adjusting the difficulty, they also observe the interaction from a broader perspective, allowing them to provide insightful feedback afterwards. An actor can clearly explain the rationale behind certain responses in specific situations. Fellow students, however, may become so absorbed in their own acting that they lose the ability to provide valuable feedback.
5. **A Role-Play Actor Understands Training Methodologies**
The actor is familiar with the training's learning objectives, enabling them to effectively reinforce desired behaviours during the role-play and relate feedback to the learning outcomes. Fellow students may lack this ability.
In summary, when you hire a role-play actor, you gain access to a true professional who can maximize the results of any role-play situation in your training or workshop.