Group discussions
During group discussions, participants try to find effective ways in which to promote their studies and careers, to identify any problems and think of ways in which to resolve them. In examples that deal with the reasons behind problems and setbacks, the trainers should ensure that at least one solution is found for each problem. In this way you can prevent participants from thinking that some things cannot be solved.
Sometimes the same solutions and action models can be applied to different underlying factors or problem areas.
Pair or group exercises
Exercises can be carried out either in pairs or small groups. During the exercise, the trainers go round the groups and make sure that the exercise has been correctly understood, and encourage the participants. At the same time, the trainers observe group performance. After the exercise, the trainers return the findings to the group through positive observations. When necessary, the trainers ask the group whether they have any questions.
Role-play exercises
Role-play exercises are also used in the programme. To start with, the trainers present the group with an example of a work situation that does not go well. The group then discusses the trainers’ actions and puts forward proposals as to how the trainer who plays the role of the employee could improve their performance. After this, the trainers re-enact the situation, observing the group’s feedback.
The trainers themselves present the role-play exercises for two reasons:
- To provide models for different social situations and to show different ways of behaving or acting. Every participant can then find ways in which to act in similar situations which suit them personally.
- To lower the participant´s resistance to role-playing by the trainers themselves taking part.
The participants apply group discussion results to practice in three-person role-plays (see the exercise 3.5 Controlling your workload).
Everyone plays the role of employee, supervisor and observer in these role-plays. The observer’s job is to note positive things in the performance of the others and to promote their participation and learning by offering positive feedback. In this way, role-play consolidates the participants’ social skills through subjective experiences of succeeding, observing others as models and through positive feedback from others.
The trainers can, when necessary, show other courses of action that the group has suggested during the exercises, even if these were not written down. The idea of role-play is to more clearly express how the various courses of action proposed by the group look, feel, and how they can be developed if necessary. One trainer can, for example, play the supervisor’s role, while the other trainer plays the employee, who takes the courses of action proposed by the group. After this the group can continue by discussing how the employee’s arguments felt from the employer’s perspective.