How do companies retain and nurture the talent of Gen Z? The answer: Offer interactive opportunities for learning.

Empathetic leadership has never been so essential. Although it is up for debate if empathetic leadership can truly be “taught,” it can certainly be practiced and refined. Experiential learning — and, specifically, team-based business simulations — are a unique approach to help leaders understand and practice empathetic leadership.

Leadership development programs, delivered virtually or in-person, contain multiple learning methods, but none impact growth and development to the same degree as experiential learning. When leaders directly address their most common challenges by actually making the tough decisions in real time and reflecting upon the results, they begin to forge behaviors and long-lasting leadership skills at rapid rates.

Let’s face it: most leaders learn their craft largely through apprenticeship.  Talent Management and Leadership Development programs offer new skills and perspectives at key points in a leader’s career, but the most significant input to how leaders learn to lead is what they see in the leaders they have worked with-- for good or for bad. 

During the summer of 2019, we created an infographic detailing both WHAT leaders learn from a Business Simulation and HOW leaders learn during a business simulation.The rapid push to virtual work has made the summer of 2020 look very different from both a work and life perspective. Yet, while so much else has changed, the impact of a business simulation remains intact. The combination of experiential learning and collaborative exercises in which individuals connect and interact make business simulations the perfect solution for a virtual leadership development experience. Business simulations have eight key elements that make them effective in the virtual setting as they drive interaction and create opportunities for feedback and reflection.

When you hear the term “business simulation," what comes to mind? Images of MBA case studies, computer-based games, maybe even memories of prior simulation experiences? You may be surprised to find that business simulations can be far more effective for your organization than you thought. Breaking down the common simulation misconceptions shows how valuable they can be for your organization.

CHALLENGE Our client recently closed an acquisition of a company larger in size, with largely complementary products and global operations.