Page 176 - Communication in Organizations Basic Skills and Conversation Models
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Appendix B

                                      Role play



        Because role play is frequently used on training programmes aimed at the acquisition of
        the skills described in this book, it is important to dedicate detailed attention to this kind
        of exercise.
           Practising role play has the great advantage that it offers an opportunity to work in an
        atmosphere of freedom, meaning that mistakes and blunders are unimportant. You can
        freely experiment with new behaviour without having to be scared of hurting  ‘real’
        conversation partners. In a training session prepared roles are often used: first, because
        the majority of students do not have much experience with situations in a  company
        setting; second, because the roles of conversation leader/interviewer and partner have to
        correspond. The duration of the conversations varies between 5 and 30 minutes. By using
        role play we can discern between:

        • the preparation
        • the preliminary talk
        • acting and observing
        • giving feedback.


                                     The preparation

        Good preparation is a minimum condition for the success of a role play. If you take the
        role of  conversation leader/interviewer you must have a clear idea of the  goal  and
        structure of the conversation. You should also know which skills or conversation model
        you want to use and which of your weak points you wish to pay attention to.
           If you take the role of  interviewee, applicant, client or  employee (conversation
        partner),  you  have  to imagine yourself in that particular role before the actual
        conversation.
           For  both  parties  it  is  equally  valid that: when preparing a role, try to get a good
        understanding of the environment and atmosphere of the conversation. Try also to adapt
        your attitude and use of language as far as possible to the role. Students who are role
        playing a shop assistant will present  themselves from a head of department in a
        conversation about the department’s performance.
           Besides prepared roles,  self-conceived roles are sometimes used. Here  also  the
        following applies: play your role seriously. For example, choose a problem of somebody
        in your environment or something you yourself can well imagine. If you have to think
        about how old you are or whether you are married or not during the conversation both
        players can become somewhat confused. Last but not least, you should take into account
        the skills or conversation model practised by the conversation leader. Try to prepare the
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