Design Your Own Leadership Simulations
A leadership development program can go from “good” to “amazing” by adding simulations and experiential learning activities. But how do you design a great experience? How do you know it will be great? Simthing New’s approach to simulation design is not proprietary or secret. In fact, we want EVERYONE to use it. We’ll train your facilitators, designers, or even your contractors on the basic steps to creating deep and meaningful simulations.
Let us know what you’re looking forBelow are the four tenets we use to design simulations and immersive experiences. When designing a simulation, we believe effective learning and user experience come first…technology comes second.
How do you design simulations that teach?LISTEN FOR LEADERSHIP CONTRADICTIONS
Leadership are most challenged when an organization’s policy and culture collide. As these contradictions emerge during your analysis interviews, you have discovered the golden nuggets for creating rich and meaningful learning experiences.
MODEL THE MENTAL MODEL THEY NEED TO SUCCEED
A simulation is merely a model executed over time or turns. Skilled designers create a representation of the mental model leaders need to develop…and simulate it. Everything else in the program is then build around exposing and exploring that model.
A PROGRESSION OF MEANINGFUL PROBLEMS
Rather than teaching tasks or doing role plays of scenarios, effective leadership development requires immersing leaders in the challenging problems they face. A well-thought out sequence of realistic problems helps leaders build pattern recognition they will take back with them.
MEASURE THE SYSTEM, MEASURE THE BEHAVIOR
Every simulation should capture two sets of performance data: impact to the business, impact on the people. Together, leaders learn how to balance the two and become more effective overall.