Role playing

Ever wonder what a customer feels?  Do you wish you had greater insight into a client?  Don't wonder - set up a role play!  Have people transact business, play with customer personalities and work through challenges by setting up a mock experience.  Surveys will get lots of data, but having your employees play both sides of a transaction or experience percolates new ideas and new perspectives.  

It is also important to inspire people to go beyond their limits and preconceptions.  Role playing in a safe environment (be it work or pleasure!) can often create a better skill set for the individual and ultimately the team.  The key here is both safety and seriousness.  Role playing should be taken seriously while in the role.  Otherwise it can seem silly and trite.  Give it a try, who knows, you might learn something.