.svg){kind=small}
The Netherlands
Mussenstraat 15
1223 RB Hilversum
Belgium
Ankerrui 9
2000 Antwerpen
-
- Blogs
- Practical Role-play for retail leaders
Practical Role-play for retail leaders: Frank’s real-life turnaround
Frank, the Assistant Store Manager, has the shop floor running like clockwork. Flawless stock, spotless displays. But when a team issue pops up? He’d rather disappear behind a stack of throw pillows. Then a five-minute Role-play flips the script, turning tricky conversations into confident leadership moments.
5-minute practice
A cheeky solution
Then TinQwise NOW with its Role-play feature lands in Frank's inbox, like an unexpected tray of ‘poffertjes’ on a rainy day. "Five minutes?" scoffs Frank. "What sort of management crisis gets sorted in five minutes?"
But curiosity (and desperation) get the better of him. Between the morning rush and lunch, Frank slips into the training room and opens the Role-play scenario.
"Your team member consistently arrives late. How do you address this without causing defensiveness?"
"Well, I'd probably... um..." Frank hesitates, then presses START.
What follows isn’t the corporate snoozefest he expected. It’s surprisingly... fun? The virtual team member reacts realistically. When Frank blurts, "You're always late," the simulation highlights the defensive response this triggers. "Blimey, that's exactly what Sander would say," chuckles Frank.
He tries again. And again. Tweaking his approach each time. By round three, he lands on: "I've noticed you've arrived after your shift start three times this week. I'm concerned because it impacts the morning setup. What's going on?"
From simulation to sales floor
The next morning, Sander arrives ten minutes late. Frank, instead of avoiding it, takes a breath: "Sander, could I grab you for a quick chat when you've settled?"
To his surprise, the conversation flows almost exactly as it had in the Role-play. Sander explains his childcare situation has changed. Together, they work out a temporary schedule adjustment.
Emboldened by this success, Frank tackles the Suzanne situation that afternoon. By week’s end, he’s had more meaningful conversations than in the last three months combined.
The ripple effect
And it shows. Sander starts arriving early. Suzanne discovers she actually enjoys helping customers. Especially the ones shopping for Egyptian cotton sheets. The atmosphere shifts. Team members speak up more. Customer compliments roll in.
Even the regional manager notices: "What's happened here, Frank? Everyone seems properly chuffed to be working."
Frank smiles. "Just a bit of practice, really. Turns out I needed to play before I could work."
From one Frank to many
Frank’s story isn’t just about one manager. It’s a glimpse into the future of learning at work. When learning tools feel realistic, quick, and even fun, they don’t interrupt the job, they empower it. That’s the shift happening across modern workplaces: less theory, more play. Less passive learning, more practice.
Across the Netherlands, from Bijenkorf to MR MARVIS, from Maastricht to Uithoorn, managers like Frank are building confidence through practical, pressure-free training. And it’s making a difference.
And Frank? He still straightens his tie before coaching chats. Old habits die hard. But now, he walks straight onto the floor. Ready to lead with clarity and care.
Ready to be more like Frank?
Step into Role-play. Press START. Find your voice, one five-minute scenario at a time. Because sometimes, the best way to lead is to rehearse first.