A lot of people see the words “role-playing” and immediately think of drama class: standing at the front of the room, acting out a scene, maybe even putting on a silly voice. That’s not what we do here.
At Leadership Treehouse, role-playing is about stepping into a character and making decisions inside a guided story. There’s no performance, no costumes, and no pressure to “be entertaining.” Instead, it’s an easy, structured way to explore leadership challenges in a safe, playful setting.
How it works
Here’s what actually happens in a session:
You get a character sheet – It’s a simple page with a few attributes to guide how your character behaves and how their leadership qualities play out. This helps you step out of your day to day and into some new shoes where you can experiment and play.
The facilitator sets the scene – They narrate the story world and present a situation, like facing a locked gate, a tricky negotiation, or a looming storm.
You choose an action – All you need to do is say what your character would try: “I’d like to climb the cliff face” or “Charlie the Wizard would try to unlock the gate.”
The dice decide what happens – The facilitator might ask you to roll a dice to see if you succeed or fail. Then they narrate the outcome and keep the story moving.
You play together as a group – Often you’ll discuss and decide actions as a team, so no one is ever left on the spot.
Your only job is to make choices when prompted. The facilitator handles everything else: the world, the rules, the pacing, and the story.
Why we use it
This style of role-play makes leadership practice tangible. Instead of just talking about concepts like courage, collaboration, or decision-making, you get to try them out in a low-stakes, imaginative setting. You’ll notice how you naturally lead, where you hesitate, and how you work with others.
Because it’s framed in a fantasy setting, it feels playful and safe. You’re free to experiment without worrying about “getting it wrong.”
Inclusive by design
We’ve run this with seasoned leaders, new managers, shy participants, and even people who were nervous walking in. Every time, by the end, they’re engaged and having fun.
We design the experience to be:
Safe – No one is put on the spot or asked to perform.
Clear – Instructions are simple, and the facilitator guides every step.
Inclusive – Everyone can contribute in their own way, even if it’s just one sentence at a time.
We’ve truly only ever had good feedback from our participants about the role playing side, even from the most skeptical players (at first).
