Corporate Roleplay Skills for Actors
For business, using professional actor-roleplayers is a tried and tested way to add a realistic and rewarding element to any recruitment, assessment, training or development event.
For actors, learning to transfer those observation and performance skills to the business world can add a useful extra string to your professional bow.
Roleplay is useful for practising interaction and skills, especially in awkward situations such as handling complaints and emergencies, holding difficult conversations and gathering information. So many skills including customer service, management, performance reviews, coaching, interviewing technique and professional procedures can all be taught and tested using roleplay.
Sting in a classroom or reading an e-learning package will go some way to learning new skills, but there’s no substitute for practical experience and the chance to have a go. Not everyone reacts well to sitting and being talked at in a classroom. Roleplay gives the activists among the group the chance to learn if they don’t do so well in a classroom, while it encourages the reflectors and theorists to come out from behind their books and computers and try their hand.
I’ve frequently been told how unexpectedly enjoyable a roleplay event has been, allowing for some fun, laughter and consequence-free mistakes as they put complicated theory into understandable practice, and initial nerves do subside as they get to grips with the exercise. The facilitator can then give instant positive feedback, to help build confidence and iron out any problems.
Roleplay lets them get their hands dirty and gives them a feel for the real skills needed for their day to day work in a safe environment before trying them out for real.
Tutor Philippa Hammond
As a teacher of Corporate Roleplay Skills for Actors, I have a unique background:
I’m a professional actor, voice artist and experienced corporate roleplayer, and teacher of public speaking skills.
I was formerly an investigative interviewer, manager, coach and learning and development officer in the tough corporate world of the UK Border Agency.
I’ve experienced the value of roleplay first hand myself as a trainee, I use a lot of roleplay in my work as a trainer, and as a professional actor/roleplayer I provide realistic situations for recruitment, training, formal assessment and promotion events.
Corporate roleplay event for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service:
“A special mention was made by the lead assessor regarding the performance of Philippa Hammond … strong and consistent… many thanks for doing such a great job.”
Roleplay UK
I offer a practical and intensive comprehensive one-day workout, and a set of useful skills for the business world.
The course: