Theatre-based Activities for Trainers

Why are Bodhih’s workshops on theatre-based training becoming popular?

Theatre based training is an effective model that needs adult appreciation of a theme that is complex and dynamic. What theatre essentially brings to the human experience is a diversity of thought through an independent assessment of what is good or bad; right or wrong, or what is deep and true and what is only surface-deep.

Where is theatre-based training used today?

For long drama and theatre were used in workshops as part of ice-breakers, role-plays, or team building activities. Today the expectations (and the successful reception) from theatre based corporate training has grown many-folds. Imposing MNC’s and vibrant start-ups are taking an interest to weave drama elements for their programs on negotiation skills, conflict management, change management, leadership skills, behavioural adaptation, and advanced handling of challenging customers and diversity issues.

Who is the Bodhih’s programs on theatre-based training for?

Theatre based training are primarily activities for trainers. Additionally, HR practitioners from any industry, corporate trainers from any domain, L&D managers from any industry, in-house (technical or soft-skills) trainers, free-lance trainers of any specialization and learning enthusiasts are all candidates for theatre-based training programs.

Through Bodhih’s facilitator led presentations, group activity and class discussions, learners are encouraged to make connections between theatre-based activity and soft skills

As per world economic forum’s “Future of jobs” report- emotional intelligence, creativity, and people management will be top skills required in 2020. Soft skills are inherently a complex bunch of skills that needs meticulous understanding of the underlying concepts, diligent application of the practices, consistent measurement and course – correction techniques. Only then does long term and sustainable transformation come about.

The one element that is non-negotiable in soft skills training is repeated / appropriate (or guided) practice and high-quality feedback that is rich in observations and constructive in its delivery for encouraging participant change. These two aspects are covered in-depth within Drama training.

Seasoned Bodhih facilitators highlight research for trainers that ranks among the highest in recall value and increased effectiveness.

What skills do Bodhih’s workshops on theatre based corporate training impact?

• Self-Confidence, an essential component in communication skills and leadership program is built by drama training as it needs participants to maintain eye contact while speaking more clearly and effectively. Additionally, oral structure is reinforced with rehearsals and by using pauses and other tools for dramatic impact.

• Organizing Skills are reinforced in class participants because like many other organizational initiatives, theatre performance is an event, where multiple activities are interconnected with dependencies and handoffs. The learner’s attention is constantly on the various moving parts that need to work inside a well-orchestrated plan and sequence

• Listening Skills, an unavoidable element in all negotiation and conflict management programs are easily taught in the theatre format where actors are continually tuned in to listening to the others on stages and deciphering body language as well in real time.

• Stage Fright, an intrinsic deep-rooted fear that learners face in public speaking and leadership skills training is helped by Theatre-based training directly as it invites one to be more comfortable in front of an audience.

• Teamwork, a non-negotiable skill for all training and corporate function, Theatre brings people together and enables teamwork. In a theatre environment the understanding of team success (or failure) is grasped instantly and calls on the participants to demonstrate higher degrees of coordination and situational skills.

• Creative Problem-Solving, a skill much valued across all innovation programs, theatre training activities forces the group to collaborate and work across various space-time-material challenges that surfaces creativity in the form of improvisation and problem solving.

• Emotional Intelligence, an indispensable skill in all behavioural training programs, Theatre helps in enhancing emotional intelligence as it puts people in touch with their own emotions and awareness patterns first and thereafter enhances the capacity to empathise.

• Flexibility, a trait that is worked in extreme measure in corporate environments is built inside the theatre format. Decisions are made impromptu as the situations call for it and this reinforces the value of staying flexible and adaptive.

• Reflection and Observation are skills that lie at the heart of all behaviour and leadership training programs, as also various sales interventions. Drama based programs maximize the entire steps of reflection and observation for all that went well and all that can be improved after an event or performance. The learners through theatre-based activities over time imbibe the habit to introspect and come up with future improvement plans.

Frequently asked questions