Home > News > February 2008 > 27 February 2008

Steps delivers drama-based training at Fool.co.uk

Steps Drama has run a people management training programme for the management team at financial website Fool.co.uk.

Steps worked closely with Fool.co.uk's HR Manager to design the drama-based training programme which covered skills and behaviours, performance-related feedback and managing conflict. The programme was delivered off-site in two half-day sessions, one week apart.

Marisa Schlichting, HR Manager at Fool.co.uk, said: "Steps researched our organisation and interviewed members of staff so they could properly tailor the drama scenarios and the learning specifically for us and the types of issues we face."

The Steps actor-facilitators began the first session with an icebreaking drama scenario, showing poor management in a parallel organisation. A facilitated discussion followed on what makes a good manager, what gets in the way and what behaviours help to facilitate effective outcomes.

Steps then ran two further scenarios covering issues around performance management and motivation. In each, the actor playing the manager was shown struggling to deal effectively with a subordinate. At key points, the actor would stop the action and in character, ask the delegates for help and advice. The actor would then weave the delegates' suggestions back into the scene, allowing the delegates to see the success or otherwise of the approach.

"This was a very effective and engaging format," said Marisa Schlichting. "Steps are such good actors and they made the scenarios very believable. The delegates enjoyed contributing and seeing the results of their suggestions. The learning points were brought out vividly."

The second session included a conflict management exercise, in which the delegates acted as a mediator between two people who had let a dispute affect their performance. Each delegate then took part in one-to-one role plays, with an actor-facilitator playing a subordinate with a work issue that needed resolution. The delegates received feedback from their peers on their conduct and also from the actor-facilitator on how their management style was received.

"In the first session, Steps did all of the acting and by the second session, our managers felt more comfortable about participating," said Marisa Schlichting. "The whole programme was not only very enjoyable but it was also very valuable for our management team. They found it useful to get together for the session and they came away with some practical learning."

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Steps Drama

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