That high you get from role-playing

Remember that time you nailed it when a buyer threw you a curveball? It was because you knew what was coming, and you had practiced it.

Here’s the truth about role-playing: skills improve fast when you practice using them with your peers. You only have to practice a few scenarios because you know all the potential combinations of what the buyer might say.

Effective role-playing requires emulating reality as closely as possible. So set the dial to hard, and role-play the situation until it’s cemented.

Today, grab a willing partner and role-play a scenario you know will arise in a meeting later this week.

Specify what you are working on and keep your session to 15-20 minutes. (Constrict your time to create stress that mimics reality and helps you learn.)

If you stumble, call time-out and exercise your right for a do-over. Even if you nail it, do it over. Repeatedly until it’s ingrained.

Remember, it’s better to practice on each other than to practice on your customers.

It doesn’t matter how much of this seven-minute video you watch of futbol god Messi, from the start, you’ll notice he is having fun practicing.

Like Messi, your practices should be both serious and fun. If your role-plays aren’t fun, figure out why.

Joke around. Giggle at your mistakes. Rib your friends for the stupid things they say!

Lighten up. Make it fun.