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Three Activities for your next Emotional Intelligence training program

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Active Listening Role-Playing Scenarios

Active Listening Role Play

This role play exercise helps participants recognize the difference between passive hearing and active listening. It’s especially useful in communication, customer service, or leadership training sessions where building trust, understanding, and clarity are key. The activity allows people to practice listening with intention — not just waiting for their turn to speak.

Purpose

To demonstrate how active listening techniques like paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and using nonverbal cues can strengthen conversations and reduce misunderstanding.

What You’ll Need

  • Prepared role play cards or a simple printed prompt (see example below)
  • Timer or stopwatch
  • Whiteboard or flipchart (optional for debrief)

How to Run the Activity

  1. Divide participants into pairs. Assign one person as the speaker and the other as the listener.
  2. Give the speaker a prompt such as: “Talk about a time when a project you worked on didn’t go as planned.”
  3. Instruct the listener to practice active listening: maintain eye contact, nod occasionally, avoid interrupting, and paraphrase or reflect key points.
  4. After 3–4 minutes, have them switch roles with a new prompt.
  5. After both rounds, bring the group back together to debrief.

Sample Prompts

  • Describe a challenging conversation you’ve had at work.
  • Share a situation where you felt truly heard — or completely ignored.
  • Talk about something you’re currently trying to improve about your communication style.

Debrief & Discussion

Ask the group:

  • How did it feel to be truly listened to?
  • What did your partner do that helped you open up?
  • Were there moments when you felt misunderstood?
  • What techniques did you try as the listener?
  • Where do you see opportunities to use this in your daily work?

Trainer Tips

  • For large groups, use breakout groups or triads (one observer, one speaker, one listener).
  • Encourage the listener to avoid giving advice — just reflect and clarify.
  • Use a flipchart to record “What good listening looks like” during the debrief.
  • This works well as a warm-up to deeper training on feedback, coaching, or conflict resolution.

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