How To Succeed Using Business Training Simulations: Focus!
How To Succeed Using Business Training Simulations: Focus!
How do you ensure success when using business simulations? The single greatest way to ensure success if to focus. Like almost anything today, there is opportunity for more, and more, and more. Business simulations are no exception to this trend. As a training and development manager, business manager, or head or HR, you'll find a strong urge to add more and more to your training simulation. Just remember: Focus!Using a business simulation for leadership development, business acumen, or any other specific training program is great. Like other tools for learning, you need to make certain the solution is grounded in a solid foundation. Here are some tips to attain the correct focus when using sims and games for learning:
Three Simple Tips That Create Focus:
1. Write down the three reasons you want to use a business simulation- Make certain these reasons are very clear and detailed. A reason such as, "Because it will be engaging" is probably a little weak. Instead, how about, "Challenge learning participants to apply the training content in a level slightly above their current capability." Think hard about the details.2. Write down and get buy in on the three measurable goals of your training program- This is important! Having very clearly and agreed upon goals of your training program will help create grounded focus for your business training simulation. Having these written down will decrease your chance of scope creep.3. Keep the program goals and reasons in sight at all times- Keeping the goals and reasons for using a business simulation will ensure focus. If you create these and then put them away in a folder, scope creep is almost guaranteed.Using a simulation for corporate development is a great way to reinforce your training content. Sims can also act a little like candy: Once you get a taste of it, you're going to want more. The single biggest reason programs fail is size. Once a simulation becomes too large, it falls under it's own weight. The trick to keeping a 'skinny' sim is focus. Just make sure the sim does not do anything beyond your focus and you'll be fine.