Using role play to develop an empathetic mindset in executive education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of a role play activity as part of an experiential instructional strategy to develop an empathetic mindset among professionals, managers and executives attending an executive education program in change management. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides an approach and process for management educators and facilitators of executive education programs to introduce and teach role play for the busy executives to learn about empathy. Findings Role play is a useful teaching method that helps adult learners understand the importance of seeing things from another person’s point of view especially within a short period of time. Practical implications Management educators and facilitators could introduce and teach role play for the busy executives to learn about empathy based on the proposed approach and process in this paper. Originality/value This paper provides an approach and process for management educators and facilitators of executive education programs to introduce and teach role play for the busy executives to learn about empathy especially within a short a period of time.