Scenario 1E: Disappointed at Not Getting a Promotion
This scenario involves an employee who is disappointed after learning that they were unsuccessful at getting a promotion which has impacted his attitude toward his work. His manager calls him aside to have a chat.
Role-Play Scenario
Viliami opens his new email. ‘Thank you for submitting your application for a promotion. While you had a good application, unfortunately, your application has been unsuccessful. We encourage you to reflect on the feedback provided and reapply next year’ In frustration, Viliami slams his laptop closed, ‘You have got to be joking … after all the effort I put in. What a joke!’ Viliami storms out of the office, ignoring his colleagues who are trying to see if he is ok. A week later and Viliami is still very unhappy with the news that he did not get the promotion. He complains to anyone who will listen to him, in the daily catch-up meeting he has started to complain about all aspects of work and is exhibiting a poor attitude, which is impacting on his colleagues around him. Concerned about his behaviour, his manager Nikau invites him to have a chat over lunch.
Photo by Chroki Chi on Unsplash
Role-Play Instructions
- Organise participants into groups of 3 and allocate roles (employee Viliami, manager Nikau, observer
- Ask participants to read the role-play scenario information
- Suggested role-play time is 50 minutes
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Role-play time: 20 minutes
- Debrief time (observer to also provide feedback to role players): 10 minutes
- Group debrief time: 10 minutes
Role-Player 3: Observer
As the observer, your role in the scenario is to observe the relationship and conversation between the two role players. Part of your role is not to make judgments or interrupt the role play, but rather take notes on the conversation. Taking observation notes will be a critical part of the debrief, where you are able to provide the role players with your perspective on how the conversation went. To assist with taking observational notes, here are some questions to consider:
- What skills did Nikau display in the conversation?
- What non-verbal cues were utilised by Nikau in the conversation?
- Did the conversation end in a resolution? If so, what and how?
- What skills could have Nikau utilised to assist in the conversation?
Post Role-Play Debrief Questions
At the conclusion of the role-play, it is imperative that the participants are given the opportunity to debrief with each other and other role-playing groups. It is also important for the observer to provide the role players with feedback on what they observed in the relationship and conversation between the two role players. The debrief should be prefaced by first outlining the importance of feedback in the spirit of learning through action and reflection and not seen as the opportunity to highlight weaknesses or communicate criticism. The following questions can be utilised to guide the debrief process, with the ability to include further content-specific questions on the counselling process and/or skills in accordance with your curriculum.
- How did you find the role-play exercise?
- What went well in the role-play?
- What did you find challenging about the role-play?
- What would have helped improve your experience in the role-play?
- What would you do differently next time you engage in a similar conversation?
- What skills were evident in the role-play?
