Roleplay Scenario
Scenario Overview
You’re getting ready for your regular one-on-one meeting with your manager. You’ve been working hard, and you want to make sure your efforts are noticed. Your goal is to highlight your recent accomplishments and ensure your contributions are recognized, all while keeping the conversation positive and collaborative.
Roles & Setup
Role A – Employee (You)
You’ve been doing some great work and want your manager to be aware of your contributions.
Your goal: Clearly communicate your impact and discuss opportunities for future growth.
Role B – Manager
You’re focused on supporting your team’s development but might not be aware of every detail.
Your goal: Understand your team member’s achievements and help identify areas for their development.
Suggested Openers
Employee:
- “Thanks for meeting with me. I wanted to share some recent successes and get your thoughts.”
- “I’ve been reflecting on my work and wanted to highlight a few areas where I think I’ve made a significant impact.”
Manager:
- “I’m glad to hear you have some updates. Let’s dive in.”
- “I’m eager to hear about what you’ve been working on. How’s everything going?”
Sample Roleplay in Action
Employee:
“Thanks for taking the time today. I wanted to talk about a few projects where I think I’ve really made a difference. For instance, in our recent feature launch, I led the integration effort, which cut the delivery time by two weeks.”
Manager:
“That’s great to hear. The launch went really well and was ahead of schedule. What did you do to make that happen?”
Employee:
“I set up a new testing framework that caught several issues early, saving us time on rework. Plus, I worked closely with the QA team to streamline our processes.”
Manager:
“Impressive work. Those improvements are exactly what we need. How do you see these skills contributing to future projects?”
Employee:
“I’d love to get more involved in optimizing our deployment pipelines. I think there’s room to make them even more efficient.”
Manager:
“That sounds promising. Let’s set up some time to discuss this further. I’d also like you to think about sharing these strategies with the rest of the team.”
Employee:
“Thanks, I’d really appreciate that. I’m also eager to develop my leadership skills, so any feedback you have would be valuable.”
Manager:
“I’ll keep that in mind. We can look for projects where you can take the lead. Let’s keep the conversation going to support your growth.”
Post-Scenario Tools
Curveball Mode (Optional)
Throw in one of these challenges during the roleplay to keep things realistic:
- The manager seems a bit distracted during the meeting.
- A new urgent issue comes up, shifting focus away from your achievements.
- The feedback is not as positive as you expected, requiring you to adjust your approach.
Reflection Checklist
As the Employee:
- Did you communicate your achievements clearly and confidently?
- Did you connect your impact to broader team goals?
- Did you express interest in future growth and development?
As the Manager:
- Did you listen actively and acknowledge the employee’s contributions?
- Did you offer constructive feedback and suggest development opportunities?
- Did you encourage an open discussion about future goals?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not connecting your achievements to team success.
- Dominating the conversation without encouraging feedback.
- Only focusing on past achievements without discussing future aspirations.
Pro Tip
When highlighting your achievements, frame them in the context of how they benefit the team and organization. This not only showcases your value but also aligns your work with broader goals.