Executives turn to immersive leadership training in turbulent times for business
Simulating real-world challenges can help managers make better decisions under stress.
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Training in simulated environments, through role-playing and virtual reality, is also more fun.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PEXELS
Anjli Raval
One Friday afternoon in May, managers from some of the world’s biggest companies signed on to an unusual video call. Within minutes, they were transported back in time to the Atlanta Olympics of July 1996. After a week without a hitch, the Games had been thrown into chaos by a fatal pipe bomb attack. Should they continue?
This was the question posed to executives by Mr Edouard Getaz, a film producer turned leadership trainer. During a simulation lasting several hours, the participants heard audio recordings and watched video footage of decision makers at the time – from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the International Olympic Committee – to figure out the right course of action at key points during the crisis. Participants broke away to engage with each other, test their ideas and receive feedback.
