Setting the scene for better performance at work It's 2.30pm. Lunch was lovely and the tummy is full. A little snooze would be just the thing. The instructor's lips are definitely moving … but what was that they just said? Maybe it was important. What time is coffee break? Yes, it's another training day, another staff ‘day off'.

Wake Up Call!

It's time to stop snoozing. A change of approach is what's required.

Traditional training methods have had their day. Today we are a more sophisticated audience. We expect more from all aspects of life and that includes the valuable time we give to training. We've all attended too many courses that followed the same old routine, rehashed the same old material with the same monotonous agenda. We've all ticked the boxes on the feedback form at the end and said that it was ‘very useful'. How can we expect such an old school mind-numbing format to have any real impact on work performance?

So Bring in the Clown?

What if we could entertain and train at the same time?

What if training was so fresh and new that no-one there wanted to miss a second of it? What if participants became so engrossed in the action unfolding before their eyes that learning would happen automatically and immediately?

It is possible. In order to grab someone's attention, keep it and use it to impart knowledge in a meaningful way – they need to become involved. Like any good drama, you need to make them laugh, make them cry, scare them and give them something to think about! So bring in the actors.

And .. Action!

How can actors be useful to business? It's easy - through theatre based training methods, like forum theatre.

What's that?
Forum theatre is a when actors play out a scene, and ask for input from those watching. The audience is encouraged to comment, change and control scenes, and to work with actors to try out different scenarios. In a business setting this can be applied to any number of training needs. It allows people to learn by watching as a third party, to see what works and what doesn't work, to make improvements to existing processes, to test drive something new within the company or look at potential problems and highlight pitfalls.

Writers, actors and facilitators use their skills to create completely tailored 'business simulations', brought to life in front of you. It is live and interactive, so this way of training is very powerful and high impact. Using input from everyone present, scenes are modified and replayed until the ideal scenario is reached. Participants are even invited to join in the action and take part in the scene if they want to.

In addition to forum style theatre, other interactive techniques are often employed during training sessions, to great effect. Theatre based exercises are used to focus on specific areas, such as team building, developing personal confidence and communication skills like voice or body language. Tailor made games and original sketches concentrate on key areas for staff development, bringing an easiness and a sense of fun to proceedings while at the same time driving key messages home.

Each person attending also gets the chance to interact with the actors and practice what they have learned in a safe training environment before they take their new skills into the workplace. They are involved every step of the way, so no one falls asleep during this training!

The Critical Review What would the reviewer say about such methods? This way of training is not for the faint-hearted. With such a high level of interaction and participation from everyone present, who knows what will arise? Working on specific scenarios and exploring issues in depth often highlights things that were previously not considered, or better, ‘brushed under the carpet'. It can get up close and personal, and puts a big spotlight on the workings of a business and its staff. The key to its success is willingness from all involved to be open to it and contribute in an honest way. When this happens, the benefits can be enormous. More than simply going through the process of training, attitudes will change, and the positive impact this has on staff behaviour is untold. Any business that can harness the energy of its greatest asset, its personnel, will most certainly reap the benefits.

And.. Cut! So, time for another training day. Have the alarm bells gone off yet?