What would you do? The power of real-world scenarios in training

Recently, I met with a business owner who put this perfectly.

She was talking about confidentiality. In her workspace, confidentiality is second nature. Everyone knows the boundaries and understands how to behave. But what happens when a staff member sees a client outside of work? On the street. In a cafe. At the supermarket.

It feels obvious how to respond when you've been in the industry for years. It is NOT obvious when it's your first job.

And that's why scenario based learning is so, so valuable.

eLearning is great (of course). It delivers information on policies, procedures, rules and guidance (all very important) But the most important thing it should do is bridge the gap between learning and the real world. Knowing something and being able to use it in real life are two very different things. Scenarios take the knowledge and places it into situations you are actually likely to face. Not hypotheticals or generic case studies....real decisions that require judgement, empathy and confidence.

Why scenario based learning works

1. It gives people the chance to practise decision-making before they are responsible for real-world outcomes

2. It helps us to apply knowledge instead of only recalling it

3. It supports us to build judgement, not just tick box compliance.

4. It builds confident and clarifies knowledge.

5. It allows us to make mistakes and learn from them.

It shifts training from knowing to DOING.

Think back to you own personal learning experiences....have you ever had an explanation given to you, that was promptly followed with 'imagine if....'

A good scenario doesn't just as 'What is the rule?' - it asks, 'What is the right choice in this moment, with this person, in this context?'

Why generic eLearning isn't enough

There are plenty of off-the-shelf eLearning courses that cover the basics of an industry. The problem is...

Industries are not the same as businesses!

Even in highly regulated environments, every organisation has its own:

• Culture

• Expectations

• Ways of working

• Boundaries

• Tone of communication

• Standards of service

Two cafes in the same town will handle customer complaints differently.

Two charities will have different ways of supporting volunteers.

Two construction companies will have different ways of scheduling shift work.

Two software companies will structure client interactions differently.

If your training isn't built around your environment, your staff are left guessing.

Generic training teaches people what is legally required.

Bespoke training reaches people how your business does things.

And that is what protects your brand, gets the buy-in from staff and improves retention.

Thinking outside the box matters

The confidentiality example is a perfect illustration.

What makes scenario based learning so powerful is that it helps people prepare for situations that don’t fit neatly into a rulebook or manual. Most training explains what should happen in an ideal environment. But real life is rarely that tidy. The moment someone steps outside the building, speaks to a customer who is upset, receives a difficult request or faces a grey area, they need judgement, not just information.

This is particularly important for small businesses. Every business is different, even within the same industry. Culture, expectations, service style and boundaries can vary hugely from one workplace to the next.

Scenario based learning gives you the space to show what “good” looks like in your environment. You can take the values, tone and service standards that define your business and turn them into realistic situations that reflect the kinds of decisions your staff will actually face.

This is where small businesses have a real advantage.

Because teams are closer and communication flows more naturally, you can identify meaningful scenarios quickly. You know the moments that matter. You see them every day. And you can build training around them without layers of approval or complicated instructional processes.

When training feels connected to your real world, it becomes more than information. It becomes preparation, confidence and clarity. It helps your team think beyond the obvious. To pause. To choose. To understand what your business stands for, even in situations where no one is watching.

That is how you build consistency. That is how you protect your reputation. And that is how you support staff to perform well from day one...even when the situation isn’t straightforward!

The bit where we talk about how well we do this...

As experts in learning, we know the importance of scenarios within our own eLearning development. That's why these types of activities or examples come as standard in everything we do.

We don't charge extra to include more information that cements learning and commits it to long-term memory.

There is a checklist of things that we believe should be in EVERY custom eLearning development - and scenarios are very high on that list.

It turns knowledge into judgement and information into confidence.

A great example of this is in a recent project. We designed a bespoke, interactive flowchart in Storyline that would guide a volunteer through what to do if they needed support. Practically speaking it looked and worked great...but it was also followed up with scenarios! An example and then a 'what would you do if....' activity.

It’s these real-world moments that make the difference. When training gives people the chance to think, decide and practise, you don’t just teach information... you build confidence and capability that lasts.

Get in touch

We’d love to chat about how we can build custom eLearning that uses real examples from your workplace and reflects the way you truly operate.

We offer free consultations – no obligation, just a conversation. If we can support you, we will. And if what you need right now is simply some impartial advice, we’re happy to offer that too!