In the elements of Stage 9, you’ll take part in various role-playing exercises that can help cement your learning in the LIONS program. However, since our program is agile and tailored to each leader’s specific needs, we may not use all of these exercises in your personal session for Stage 9. 

The first type of role-playing practice you may do is influence role-play. These exercises have two distinct benefits. First, you get to experience how you feel as you use your influence skills, noticing what is working for you and what still needs a bit of adjusting. Second, you receive valuable feedback from others about how you make them feel.

The second benefit is actually more important than the first, because your power of influence is all about changing the way others feel. That’s why you can’t simply practise your newfound skills in isolation. You need to act them out with another individual—or, even better, in a group setting—so you can gain multiple sources of feedback. 

For these role-play exercises to work at the deepest level, you must begin them with a specific goal or outcome in mind. First, you’ll pick just one of the 16 leadership qualities highlighted in Stage 3 and role-play that quality with another person. 

For instance, if you’re working on your flexibility, you might ask the other person to argue with you and frequently change their point of view, forcing you to change tacks. At the end of the role-play, you’ll ask the other person to give you feedback on your flexibility. 

Try role-playing with someone at home to get them to spend more time on a certain task, and ask them to be as argumentative as they can be. Or role-play with a colleague at work, acting out a conversation you anticipate will be hard for you to tackle in real life. 

Then, pick another one of the 16 qualities and use it in a role-play, until you have role-played all 16 qualities.

Based on the feedback you receive, as well as your own self-analysis, make any necessary adjustments and then role-play these qualities again with someone else. During this process, it’s very helpful to videotape yourself so you can more objectively assess your behaviour and responses.