BMW have been using Skillbox actors for people leadership training at The BMW Group Academy in Reading. In April 2018, the course will be extended to the wider BMW management network at locations in Glasgow and Dublin.
Across all industries there is an expectation for management to be able to deal with conflict and difficult conversations with employees. Common challenges that managers are faced with include holiday requests, time keeping and sick days to name a few.
The course learning aims are;
- Participants from sales, aftersales, parts and service manager roles to develop skills and knowledge in the management and leadership.
Skillbox actors use the following four styles of delivery on the course for participants to interact;
Theatre Forum
Activity Aim: Ensure learners understand the role and importance of employee engagement and the responsibilities of a leader to do all they can to prepare employees to be successful.
Two Skillbox actors perform a difficult conversation between a service manager and an employee, whilst twelve BMW managers observe the scene. The learners then have a chance to coach both actors to handle and behave differently within the scenario. The actors field lines from the learners and replay sections of the scenario with the learner driven amendments.
Real Play
Activity Aim: Creating a safe working environment by dealing with conflict.
Two BMW managers are given three real-life scenarios and tasked on how to diffuse the conflict situation. One of the managers will then do the first scene with the Skillbox actor whilst the other manager observes. The Skillbox actor then provides their perception/observation feedback. The managers then repeat the process until all scenarios are completed.
Coaching & Feedback
Activity Aim: Clarify and practice the importance of meaningful and motivational feedback and coaching in creating and sustaining peak performing people.
The Skillbox actor has pre-prepared four own personal topics and participants are to use BMW techniques to provide coaching. One manager will do the scene with the actor whilst three managers observe. The next BMW manager will take the next topic from the actor and repeat the process until all four topics are completed. After the session, Skillbox actors feedback with their feelings to managers.