From Practice to Progress: How Role-Playing Can Build Team Culture

Engage in role-playing scenarios to see your blind spots in interactions with clients

Effective team building doesn’t require grand retreats or expensive outings. Ariya Malek of Educational Awakening Center shares how a simple daily habit—role-playing real conversations—can uncover blind spots, deepen trust, and spark consistent team growth. When teammates reflect together on what works and what doesn’t, the culture naturally shifts from performance to collaboration. It’s not about scripting behavior—it’s about creating space for reflection, support, and growth inside every interaction.

What has worked for me and my business model is real-life role-playing scenarios—creating practice scenarios of conversations or interactions that teammates engage in daily. Working with each other and giving feedback on what’s working and what’s not working from a neutral position can be a very effective tool for personal and team growth. We are unaware of how we show up in interactions with clients, and this practice allows us to see our blind spots so we can start to be aware in real-life situations. This creates a foundation of trust among team players and a company culture of teamwork. – Ariya Malek, Educational Awakening Center

When teams pause to reflect together, they grow together. Role-playing allows teammates to receive honest feedback from a neutral perspective, exposing blind spots in communication and client engagement. Over time, this creates a culture of accountability, emotional safety, and shared learning. Instead of reactive corrections in high-stakes moments, teams can proactively practice and improve. This cultivates not only professional skill but personal leadership. Authentic feedback becomes a daily habit, not a rare event.