ROLE PLAY 4 | COMMUNICATION AND ACTIVE LISTENING

Characters:

1. Evelyn (Age: 67) – A retired librarian who values clear, direct communication and often speaks her mind. She tends to interrupt others when she feels strongly about something, and while she is well-meaning, she sometimes struggles to listen attentively to others. Evelyn is eager to improve her communication skills and build stronger relationships.
2. Gerald (Age: 72) – A retired engineer who is thoughtful and measured in his responses. Gerald often feels overlooked in conversations because he speaks more slowly and carefully. He has a tendency to withdraw when he feels that others aren’t fully listening to him, which can create tension in his relationships. He seeks to be heard and is working on feeling more confident in expressing his thoughts.
3. Sarah (Age: 40) – A therapist with experience in group dynamics and communication strategies. Sarah is skilled at guiding conversations, ensuring that everyone is heard, and promoting active listening. She is calm, empathetic, and actively listens to participants, offering gentle prompts when needed to facilitate more open dialogue.
4. John (Age: 45) – A therapist with a background in conflict resolution and emotional intelligence. John supports Sarah by observing the interactions, providing feedback, and helping to manage any underlying tensions. He focuses on ensuring that the communication between participants remains respectful and constructive.

Scenario:

During a FRIEND session, Sarah and John are explaining and working on communication and active listening with the participants. The session begins with each participant sharing a recent experience where they felt their communication was not effective. Evelyn begins by describing a conversation she had with a friend in which she felt frustrated because her friend didn’t seem to understand her point of view. She explains that she found herself interrupting her friend, trying to get her message across more forcefully, but the conversation quickly became heated. Gerald shares a similar experience, but he expresses that he often feels like he’s not given enough time to speak. He recalls a recent situation where, during a family dinner, his attempt to explain a technical issue was dismissed before he could finish, leaving him feeling unheard and frustrated. What should the facilitators do to handle both situations?

Questions for guided discussion on ROLE PLAY 4 | COMMUNICATION AND ACTIVE LISTENING:

• How did the facilitators balance their roles of guiding the conversation and allowing the participants to find their own resolution to the communication issues? 
• In what ways could the facilitators have encouraged more reflective thinking from the participants about their communication habits and the impact these habits have on their relationships?
• What could the facilitators have done differently to support Gerald in feeling more confident in speaking up, while also helping Evelyn learn to listen without interrupting?