Professional Documents
Culture Documents
An Interpersonal Skills Simulator Designed to Encourage Exploration, Reflection and Deliberate Thought in the areas of Leadership, Influence and Persuasion.
1 Never
1
4
Sometimes
Questions
6
Pre
7
Always
Post
How often do you find yourself focused on your agenda rather than that of others? How often should you be focused on your agenda rather than that of others?
How often do you look for ways to praise others? How often should you look for ways to praise others?
How often do you specifically try to access new ideas and thoughts from others? How often should you specifically try to access new ideas and thoughts from others?
How often do you look for the signs of buy-in to a new initiative? How often should you look for the signs of buy-in to a new initiative?
How often do you discuss differences of opinion openly? How often should you discuss differences of opinion openly?
How often do you express your thoughts assertively? How often should you express your thoughts assertively?
How often do you direct others towards goal directed work? How often should you direct others towards goal directed work?
How often do you display stubbornness or inflexibility? How often should you display stubbornness or inflexibility?
How often do you remain calm when presented with different points of view? How often should you remain calm when presented with different points of view?
10
How often do you advance the attitude of dealing with others as equals? How often should you advance the attitude of dealing with others as equals? DO NOT SKIP THIS ACTIVITY.
Between communication and the results we achieve is an invisible social system. This system is very complex and your emotional intelligence (EQ) guides you. Your EQ allows you, through intuition, to not think about this social system. The goal of this program is to get you to think more about the social system to further develop your EQ.
A higher emotional intelligence is associated with your ability to handle your automatic response (putting your own emotions aside or knowingly using them) and to use your understanding of other peoples emotions to achieve better results. IF YOU FIND PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM TOO CHALLENGING, ASK YOURSELF WHAT A MORE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENT INDIVIDUAL WOULD DO. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS WITH YOUR INSTRCUTOR OR COACH@SIMULEARN.NET
Pre-Work
Selfpaced Introduction
Windows PC users: Download the SimuLearn Scenario Launcher via your student page OS X Intel-based Mac Users: Download the SimuLearn Scenario Launcher via your student page
Select and Complete Practice Session Four (Gaining and Sharing Power)
These exercises will familiarize you with the communication framework Have these prompted any new thoughts? Write them here:
The closed captions tell you who is speaking, whether the comment is towards a person or an idea, and the intent (positive, negative or neutral) as well as what is being said.
You arent sure what the intent of the statement are (positive/negative/neutral), use the game (pictured above) to help you get used to thinking this way (a very useful life skill). Access the game at: http://www.simulearn.net/opiniongame/miniGame01.swf You think you are clicking on the communication bar but in fact are clicking on the idea container, or you are clicking on the red and green arrows that appear to the left or right of the communication bar Your uncertainty of what you are supposed to do is preventing you from knowing where or when to click. This is the purpose of the game, to get you thinking about things in the right order which may initially feel unintuitive.
A Communication Framework
Lets start by looking at how we communicate. In the real world there are many ways to express ourselves and we have a lot of the control (higher EQ means more control). Communication can always be represented as a level of support or opposition towards people and ideas. Leadership involves the skill of knowing how and when to communicate in order to get the best results.
Idea
Look at the following quotations and circle the area on either the personal or idea communication bar which best describes the opinion used. Personal Idea
How could this pragmatic way of thinking about communication help you in real life?
Reflection
In your real world, when have you red-clicked a person in the last week? Who was the person, and what was the situation? What was the impact on your power (influence and popularity), tension, ideas and work?
In your real world, when have you green-clicked a person in the last week? Who was the person, and what was the situation? What was the impact on your power (influence and popularity), tension, ideas and work?
In your real world, when have you red-clicked an idea in the last week? What was the idea, and what was the situation? What was the impact on your power (influence and popularity), tension, ideas and work?
In your real world, when have you green-clicked an idea in the last week? What was the idea, and what was the situation? What was the impact on your power (influence and popularity), tension, ideas and work?
In your real world, when have you chosen to be silent in the last week? Why? What was the impact on your power (influence and popularity), tension, ideas and work?
The dialog in vLeader may not be realistic for your style of communication. It is meant to focus you on the fact that how you communicate impacts a social system which impacts what results we get. Practice exploring and using this framework to develop experience rapidly.
Be ready to discuss these in your class discussion: Where do you click to gain influence? To Use Influence?
oppose
support
Idea
Why do you need to adjust tension?
oppose
support
What challenging or negative behaviors did you see in this scenario and how did you deal with them?
Describe a leadership challenge or team performance issue working with people in the real-world. Describe it in terms of people, ideas, opinions and impact on the business results (financial performance, customer satisfaction, employee morale). If possible comment on where the personal influence lies, the groups opinion of you, and the tension level of each person.
Do you know anyone like Oli in your workplace? What motivates or de-motivates this type of person? What can you try differently when interacting with your real-world Oli? How can you lower tension, build rapport, increase your influence in this type of situation? Have you ever felt like Oli? How could you have changed your own behavior ?
Not Sure What You are Learning? Take this short Pop Quiz: http://www.simulearn.net/Quizzes/Learning_the_Principles_Quiz.html What Kind of Leadership Style Did You Use in Scenario One?
Directing You spoke most of the time The scenario was short You did most of the work on every idea You tightly controlled the conversation Participating Delegating You spoke far less often than Oli The scenario was long You did some of the work on some ideas Oli seemed in control of the ideas
When your character speaks what interpretation does the other character have?
Affective Level Questions How do you think you receive the communications from Oli Newman? What do you feel affects this? How does Olis non-verbal communication align with his statements, what else do you perceive? How does the setting impact the communication process? How does time and when Oli wants to finish this conversation impact his communication to you as the receiver? How would knowing Oli Newman better help you as a sender? What can you do in vLeader to find out more about Oli? How would knowing Oli Newman better help you as a receiver? Application Level Questions What kind of communication network is scenario one? How would you primarily categorize the communications which go on in this conversation? Functional or dysfunctional? Explain. How is hearing different to listening? Give an example in One-on-one scenario with Oli Newman. How do you actively listen to Oli about the Do Filing Today idea, Look for Apartment? Or Team Coffee Break? Where do you click? How can you look at turn-based dialog in vLeader and use it to assess the use of email, voice-mail and SMS messages?
Pass these ideas because they have a very strong Idea Net Value
Consider passing Look for Apartment because of the effect on the balanced scorecard Do not pass this idea because it will pre-empt strong ideas like Get Nortic Cards and Computer Set Up
Do Filing Today
Finish Meeting
+20
+25
-15
-10
+25
+20
+10
+5
-5
-5
-5
+5
+15
+15
+40
+40
0 No
+20
Yes
Yes
Yes
Maybe
Yes
Incompatible Ideas
Do Filing Today
Do Filing Today
None
None
None
How does the social system impact getting the best business results? How do the business results impact the social system?
Directive Style
You need a Total Score of 60 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) less than 40 and where your dialog percentage is 65% or higher
Delegative Style
You need a Total Score of 60 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) between 60 and 200, and where your dialog percentage is less than 30%
Participative Style
You need a Total Score of 60 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) between 40 and 60, and where your dialog percentage is between 30 to 65%.
Great Scenario
You need a Business Results Score of 90 or Higher
How many times did you play this scenario in EXPLORE and ASSESS modes? If less than 8, practice a few more times.
You noticed body language that was consistent with the conversation
You noticed body language that was inconsistent with the conversation
Not Sure What You are Learning? Take this short Pop Quiz: http://www.simulearn.net/Quizzes/Scenario_One_Quiz.html
vLeader Workbook - Page 19 vLeader Workbook - Page 19
Contingency Theory/LMX
Cognitive Level What are the characteristics of the situation with Oli Newman in Scenario One? Is the relationship a good or poor one, initially? Describe. Is this a task structured or unstructured environment? Is your position power strong or weak? What does Fiedlers theory suggest based upon the LMX matrix? Task or relationship oriented? How can you take a relationship approach with Oli, where do you click? How can you take a task-oriented approach with Oli, where do you click? Affective Level What emotions do you have when using a more relationship-oriented approach to working with Oli? What do you fear? How do you feel when you take a relationship-oriented approach but Oli ends up focusing on his own issues and not yours? Which approach task or relationship feels like you have more control? How do you think that feels for Oli? Application Level Apply Fiedlers Contingency Theory and LMX theory to this scenario?
Houses Path-Goal
Cognitive Level How can Houses Path-Goal theory be applied to scenario One? Describe how a directive leader behavior impacted the conversation? Expand. Describe how a supportive leader behavior impacted the conversation? Expand. Describe how a participative leader behavior impacted the conversation Describe how an achievement-oriented leader behavior impacted the conversation. What personal factors do you perceive in Oli Newman? Regarding authoritarianism? Regarding Locus of Control? Regarding perceptions of their ability? Regarding Olis Primary Work Group Affective Level Which of these behaviors feels most natural to you? Which most foreign? Why? Application Level Apply Path-Goal theory to the first scenario in order to generate a plan which you can communicate to someone else as to how you will work with Oli
Transformational Leadership
Cognitive Level How can you appear more charismatic in scenario one? How do you build trust? How can you tap into Olis energy to motivate him to work on your key ideas not just his own? How can you get Oli to identify with you? When might you know that Oli has high confidence in you? How do you show genuine interest in Oli as a subordinate? How can you create intellectual stimulation in Oli and get him to make a large leap in his direction? Affective Level What does it feel like to build trust with Oli? What does it feel like when you have tapped into Olis motivation? Application Level Discuss the application of transformational leadership in the context of scenario one.
Crisis Looming
Finish Meeting
Coffee Shop
Fix Morale
Financial Performance Customer Satisfaction Employee Morale Idea Net Value Complete this Idea?
-5
+15
+5
-5
+15
-5
+15
+15
-5
-10
+25
+10
-5
+10
+5
+10
-10
Yes
Incompatible Ideas
Supported by?
Verbal
Directive Style
You need a Total Score of 60 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) less than 50 and where your dialog percentage is 65% or higher
Delegative Style
You need a Total Score of 60 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) between 75 and 200, and where your dialog percentage is less than 30%
Participative Style
You need a Total Score of 60 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) between 50 and 75, and where your dialog percentage is between 30 to 65%
Great Scenario
You Need a Business Results Score of 90 or Higher
How many times did you play this scenario in PRACTICE and ADVANCE modes? If less than 8, practice a few more times.
Support Crisis Looming idea only when Oli and Rosa are not in conflict Build influence and the groups opinion and then strongly introduce Raise Retention to 65% Strongly Support Retention to 65% idea; use your power to support your idea and rally the team Remember to communicate directly to people as well as ideas
vLeader scenarios are not real meetings The virtual characters are not real people The dialog is not real conversation
However: Real scenarios do include the opinions, behaviors, agendas and strategies in vLeader Real characters are affected by the ideas and people involved in the discussion Real conversations are supporting, opposing, and neutral comments towards people and ideas
negative
positive
You will learn to rise above the specifics of the conversation, whether it be verbal or written, and recognize what ideas are being discussed, what opinion each person has of the ideas and each other. The more you focus on reactions, interactions, and behaviors, the more strategically and effectively you will be thinking.
Mission
What was the most important idea(s) to pass in this scenario? What trade-offs did you have to make to get that idea passed?
Awareness
What is the relationship like between Oli and Rosa? What effect does that have on the most important idea(s) you identified above?
Execution
If you have not completed four of the Scenario Two goals, play this scenario at least once more to effectively execute this strategic approach to Scenario Two. Use the PAUSE button frequently to give yourself time to assess the best place to click to execute that strategy. Helpful Hint if the virtual meeting feels confrontational or a struggle to keep on task (constantly switching ideas and trying to finish the meeting) something is out of alignment with Power, Tension, Ideas or Work strategies. Try a different approach to optimize your personal influence, the groups opinion of you, generate new ideas and moderate tension levels to lead others to the Best Results.
What challenging or negative behaviors did you notice in the simulator and how did you deal with them?
Describe a situation where it is difficult to prioritize yourself or other people, and/or a scenario where a conflict stifles the productivity of the team. Consider the following questions: Who are the people involved? What are the ideas? What is the groups opinion of you? What is the groups tension level? What is your level of personal influence? What is the right work?
What have you discovered about the style of leadership you most often use?
Not Sure What You are Learning? Take this short Pop Quiz: http://www.simulearn.net/Quizzes/Scenario_Two_Quiz.html
vLeader Workbook - Page 28 vLeader Workbook - Page 28
Affective Level
Comment on your tolerance for conflict and its role in this scenario. How do you feel about having to discuss the Use Automation idea? What does it feel like to initially build an alliance with one person and then look for the other to join in? Which conflict orientation in the Thomas Kilmann model feels most natural and unnatural? How were you part of the conflict and what was the cause?
Application Level
Discuss the application of the Thomas & Kilmann model in the context of scenario two. If you were coaching someone else in a situation like this, how would you tell them to approach the scenario?
Remember that you are no longer the person with the highest authority. How does this affect how you interact? How should it affect you when you interact? Alan Herman Will You / Corey
Rosa
Oli
Complete the following idea sheet to determine which ideas are best for Business Results (plan your work) To help self-diagnose your performance after each scenario, review this link: http://www.simulearn.net/metrics.html
Call Center Work Financial Performance Customer Satisfaction Employee Morale +20
Minutes on Website +5
Go to Party
Cut Expenses +5
Finish Meeting
0
0
+30
+10
-5
-5
+5
+20
+15
-10
+5
-10
+10
Directive Style
You need a Total Score of 70 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) less than 40 and where your dialog percentage is 70% or higher
Delegative Style
You need a Total Score of 70 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) between 70 and 200, and where your dialog percentage is less than 30%
Participative Style
You need a Total Score of 70 or higher, with a scenario length (in dialog turns) between 40 and 70, and where your dialog percentage is between 30 to 70%
Great Scenario
You need a Business Results Score of 90 or Higher
How many times did you play this scenario in EXPLORE and ASSESS modes? If less than 8, practice a few more times.
vLeader Tips
Use the right mouse button instead of the left mouse button to introduce an idea, and you will introduce it negatively, bringing it up without investing your personal influence
Macintosh users can hold down the Apple key while clicking on an idea to introduce an idea negatively. Remember that your business score is impacted only by the ideas completely passed
What challenging behaviors did you see in this scenario? How did you effectively deal with them?
Write in the space below observations about what does and does not work in this scenario for discussion with your group:
Not Sure What You are Learning? Take this short Pop Quiz: http://www.simulearn.net/Quizzes/Scenario_Three_Quiz.html
vLeader Workbook - Page 34 vLeader Workbook - Page 34
Affective Level
How did it feel to have Will tell you not to discuss the Call Center and then try to champion his Sales Retreat? How did it feel If you could have changed how this meeting starts, what might you have done prior to this meeting other than had an informal conversation with Herman about funding the call center? How does it feel to have to find support for the Call Center work? Did you ever feel apprehension about asking someone to contribute? Explain how and why you may have felt or others may have felt intimidated in this scenario.
Application Level
Which of these influence tactics did you find yourself using? Comment on which ones seemed to work.
Mission:
What was the most important idea(s) to pass in this scenario? What trade-offs did you have to make to get that idea passed?
Awareness
Who has formal authority in this scenario? What impact does this have on the scenario? What non-verbal communication have you seen in this scenario?
Execution
Play this scenario at least one more time to effectively execute this strategic approach to Scenario Three. Use the PAUSE button frequently to give yourself time to assess the best place to click to execute that strategy
Senior Meeting
Finish Meeting
Consolidate IT
Keep Vendors
+20
+10
+10
+5
-5
-5
-5
-10
-5
+10
-5
+15
+20
-5 Idea Net Value Complete Idea? Y/N Incompatible Ideas Supported by?
-10
+15
-5
+15
+10
+10
Yes
Consensus Scenario
You need all characters to agree to at least one idea
Strategic Success
You need to build an alliance with one or more characters for a strategic purpose. Try to optimize your informal power
Great Scenario
You need a Business Results Score of 90 or higher without dominating the conversation (use only 25-35% of the dialog turns)
How many times did you play this scenario in EXPLORE and ASSESS modes? If less than 6, practice more.
Tactics: Introduce and support Consolidate IT and More Client Contact. Write down as many different places you can click to execute this
Tactics: Support Herman and Will when they are tense by clicking in their green zone Write down as many different places you can click to execute this.
Tactic: Do not let either Senior Meeting or Fire Nortic Vendors pass. Write down as many different paces you can click to execute this.
What challenging behaviors did you witness in this scenario? How did you deal with them?
Describe a team situation at your workplace where others want to continue with old ways of doing things when new ways are required, and/or describe a situation where you are challenged with leading people above you or from other departments.
Not Sure What You are Learning? Take this short Pop Quiz: http://www.simulearn.net/Quizzes/Scenario_Four_Quiz.html
vLeader Workbook - Page 41 vLeader Workbook - Page 41
Rebuild Facility
Move to States
Finish Meeting
Best Product
Best Service
Do Nothing
+15
-5
-10
+5
+25
+10
+10
-10
+10
+15
-10
+5
+5
+25
+25
+20
-10
+10
-10
+5
+5
+20
+25
Yes
Great Scenario
You Need a Business Results Score of 90 or Higher
Idea Play
You need to get all of the ideas on the table
Efficient Play
Complete the scenario within 85 total dialog turns
How many times did you play this scenario in EXPLORE and ASSESS modes? If less than 8, practice more.
Try using the right click on the idea of "Do Nothing" to introduce it negatively
Do not introduce any revealed ideas until all ideas are revealed to you Consider whether you need power (influence and alignment) in this scenario
What challenging or negative behaviors did you see in this scenario? How did you deal with them?
Describe a situation where your team has suffered a crisis, extreme duress or chaos:
Perhaps they were immobilized by high stress or fear; perhaps they were unable to generate new ideas; perhaps people were more worried about keeping the blame from themselves
Describe what you have done across the entire vLeader program What have you learned about styles, power (personal influence, groups opinion) tension, ideas, the right work, and balanced business results? Did you play the same situations from different approaches? Did you apply a communication framework of supporting and opposing people and ideas? Did you learn about and respond to how your communication affects the social system? Did you apply a thought process around business results?
Are you now ready to try using what you have been practicing in the simulator in your real world situations?
Not Sure What You are Learning? Take this short Pop Quiz: http://www.simulearn.net/Quizzes/Scenario_Five_Quiz.html
vLeader Workbook - Page 46 vLeader Workbook - Page 46