Week 42: Mega Roleplay

Mega roleplay is one which starts on the first day of training and ends on the last day of the training.

It is supposed to be continued with the same participants. Ideally speaking all the participants have to be trainers. Where so many trainers are not available to play different roles, only then some amongst trainees can be chosen. However, the mediator’s role has to be necessarily taken by the trainer.

Structure

A role play with simple facts is to be chosen, so that any one should be able to understand the facts of the case within 3-4 minutes.

However challenging situations are to be created, in order to see to it that mediator demonstrates how the situation is handled making use of the theoretical knowledge given in the previous sessions.

Depending on the number of days of training, role play must be divided into different scenes/parts.

Trainees should not feel that the role play is being dragged. Participants in the role play must be briefed very well before commencing he role play. Trainer playing the role of mediator has to speak in such a way to ensure that with every sentence a message gets conveyed to the trainees.

The dialogues/conversations/discussions must be crisp and to the point. That is why it is ideal to have the co trainers play the role of participants.

Unwanted talk is to be completely avoided. Trainees and the participants should feel as though they are getting real life experience. 

Timing

It is ideal to have the mega role play at the end of every day’s session, so that the best practice stays in the mind of the trainees. While going back home from day’s session, only what is to be done, how, when and why it is to be done remains with the trainees. This helps in positive reinforcement. 

Trainer Mediator’s role

1. Wherever specific techniques or skills are used mediator should name the skill or technique used
2. Wherever barriers are seen, mediator has to identify and name the barrier and use the technique to overcome the barrier.
3. Styles of negotiation are to be identified.
4. Types of bargaining have to be identified and named
5. Types of impasse created has to be identified and named.
6. Technique to break the impasse has to be identified and informed.
7. Different types of questions have to be identified and named.

Purpose of Mega role play

1. It is quite common to see the trainees requesting the trainers themselves to play the role of mediator/s and demonstrate. Trainees will be eager to learn through the master’s performance.
2. When a mega role play is divided into different scenes and parts, essential tips, techniques and skills are introduced to the trainees in a phased manner.
3. Trainees learn how to assimilate theoretical knowledge with practical knowledge.
4. Notwithstanding several role plays being given to the trainees on each of the working days, each part of the mega role play, leaves an everlasting mark in their memory regarding ‘dos and do nots’.
5. Many questions troubling the trainees get answered through such role plays.

 “I am not smart, I pay attention. I am not considerate, I listen. I am not patient, I make time. I am not lucky, I work hard.” 

Mark W Boyer – Author

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(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)