Business Theater is a powerful, entertaining and skill-building training technique that can easily be incorporated into existing leadership training initiatives or others that are being developed. Very different from role-plays, it can be employed in live settings (e.g., topical training seminars and workshops) or as a part of an on-line leadership development course.
Business Theater helps leaders enhance and build skills in many areas, including:
Conflict
Performance review
Giving and receiving feedback
Career conversations
People skills
As a very versatile tool, business theater can be customized to best fit the needs of the client. There are a myriad of ways to structure the shape and form of the vignettes and what the actor/trainers do based on the objectives of the training, and the particular needs of the client group and/or organization.
In addition, the entertainment aspect of the vignettes can be adjusted relative to the audience; they can be more serious or more playful. Regardless, though, this technique captures the attention of participants, gets them to problem-solve in real time, and lets them witness their suggestions taking shape and form. From a skill building perspective, Business Theater provides practical and "ready to use" techniques that go well beyond a theoretical or didactic discussion of a particular topic.