In a world where FAKE can be seen as pejorative:
(think fake news, fake followers, fake tan)
We want to showcase where FAKE can be great!
(think 'true-to-life' workplace simulations )
Giving teams the ability to participate in a FAKE situation provides experience, builds confidence, inspiration and much more.
This edition is dedicated to the heart of what we do at Serious Woo, creating immersive learning programs that are Fun, build Awareness, share Know-how and build mastery through Experience.
FAKE can be where learning and innovation happen together.
It's so unreal!
While we have always understood the value of Serious Woo's conversation clinics as a great way to practice and give feedback on challenging conversations, we have also observed how they often evolve into a risk-free way to test approaches, stress-test processes and even identify opportunities for cross-department collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
Many decades before Serious Woo, part of my mandate was to create a culture of sharing project learnings via the After Action Review, known in modern times as the (Retro)spective. These are powerful approaches to explore where things went well and not so well when your organisation has a blame-free culture and people are comfortable at sharing their challenges (and those of others). This is often not the case and Retros become less impactful.
One unanticipated benefit of a simulation is that there is:
no real project team
no real deliverables met or not met
no impact on performance goals or clients
We have noticed an increased level of ease for teams to share concerns, explore ideas and provide feedback.
We are working with several teams who have engaged us to develop a program of quarterly simulations for peer groups to share ideas and approaches around a range of different 'people' challenges.
Fake It Until You Make It
The greatest thing about simulations is there are no limitations! Here are 10 examples of workplace simulations in action.
Managing the change in peer-to-peer dynamics for a newly promoted manager
Triaging impacted residents during a bushfire at a relief centre
Practicing trauma-informed conversations in the office
Illustrating the nuances around inappropriate behaviour at work
Engaging with community stakeholders over a proposed infrastructure project
Providing feedback to your boss
Feedback conversations around poor performance and tardiness
Demonstrating what occupational violence looks like to a caring profession
Challenging conversations with key clients
Empowering allies to become confident upstanders
So Unreal! Sharing the Learnings.
In our most recent 'Art of Disagreement' workshop, we asked participants to write down their key learning from the session. They then swapped the cards at the end of the session to share insights from others. Personally relevant insights made from their own observations of seeing things in practice.
So does your team need some help being FAKE (it's so unreal!) to take your learning and innovation to the next level? Book a time to have a chat with us here!
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