Change management training is essential to help major cosmetics groups tackle the challenges of staying competitive. In a context of global transformation, it helps them navigate change and meet new market expectations.
The Cosmetics Group case: transformation on a global scale
Our client, an internationally renowned cosmetics group, launched an ambitious transformation plan to make the company more digital, sustainable and collaborative. A project of this scale called for an innovative approach to change management training. The challenge: train the HR Directors in change management and introduce the full set of behaviours to be promoted within the new way of working
Faced with this challenge, the Cosmetics Group identified several key needs:
- Raise awareness of the transformation among the group’s senior HR Directors
- Work on the behaviours to be promoted within the new way of working
- Prepare these key players to spread change across every department
- Build a cooperative mindset among HR Directors
- Address intercultural issues in an international context
The change management training therefore had to meet these specific objectives, while suiting a senior, multicultural audience.
An immersive experience for change management training
To meet this challenge, Arcane proposed a fresh approach to change management training and to promoting the behaviours the group wanted to encourage.
A bespoke escape room on soft skills, in English
Duration: half a day Participants: 15 HR Directors Design time: 4 months
This one-of-a-kind session was designed to give every participant a shared experience, while bringing to life the behaviours to be championed within the new way of working.
The format: an escape room built for change management training
The escape roomlasted 60 minutes and was designed so that all 15 participants could play at the same time. This playful approach to change management training focused on essential values such as cooperation, active listening, collective decision-making, adaptability in the face of change and dealing with uncertainty. Each behaviour was explored through a scenario within the escape room.
Why the escape room works so well for change management training
Using an escape room as a change management training tool offers many advantages over traditional methods. This innovative approach creates a unique learning environment, combining engagement, hands-on experience and the development of essential skills.
Learning by doing.
Learning by doing sits at the heart of the escape room experience. Rather than sitting through presentations on change management, participants experience the challenges first hand.
They have to make quick decisions, adapt their strategies and collaborate effectively under pressure. This makes learning more tangible and directly applicable to their role as change leaders within the organisation.
Developing soft skills
Developing soft skills is another benefit of this method. Behavioural skills such as effective communication, problem-solving and stress management are essential in change management.
The escape room is the perfect training ground for these skills, letting participants practise them intensively and naturally, in a setting that mirrors the real challenges of organisational transformation.
Team cohesion
Team cohesion is significantly strengthened by the escape room experience. Working together to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles, participants build strong bonds.
This shared experience lays the foundations for more effective cooperation throughout the change process. Participants learn to recognise and value each other’s strengths, which is essential to delivering large-scale transformation.
Cultural adaptability
Finally, the cultural adaptability of the escape room makes it a particularly relevant tool for international organisations. The playful format cuts across cultural and language barriers, allowing a diverse team to take on board the same concepts in the same way.
This matters especially in global change management, where the ability to align different cultures and perspectives determines the success of the transformation.
The key stages of the change management training
Our approach to change management training for the Cosmetics Group unfolded in several phases:
Analysing specific needs
We began with an in-depth study of the Cosmetics Group’s transformation plan. This analysis allowed us to pinpoint the key skills to develop among the HR Directors. We also took intercultural factors into account, to adapt the training to the company’s different cultural realities.
Bespoke escape room design
We created a scenario reflecting the company’s challenges, weaving in the values and objectives of the Cosmetics Group, but set in a world far removed from the workplace, so participants could grasp the importance of these skills in a more universal way. The puzzles and riddles we developed all centred on change management, creating an immersive and highly relevant experience.
Delivering the experience
The logistics were adapted to an international setting, with a tailored briefing for the facilitators. We ran tests and made adjustments to get the experience just right, making sure every detail was in place.
Running the training session
A welcome and introduction to the training objectives were followed by the escape room itself, which ran for 60 minutes. An in-depth debrief then helped embed the learning and unpack what participants had experienced. They also spoke with coaches, who highlighted areas where their ability to cooperate could improve.
The results of the change management training
This innovative approach to change management training delivered significant results for the Cosmetics Group. We saw greater engagement from the HR Directors, who showed real enthusiasm and renewed motivation to lead change. Participants were also far more confident in their ability to cooperate and put that change into practice.
The shared experience strengthened cohesion between participants, making future collaboration easier. The HR Directors gained a clearer, more concrete view of what the company’s transformation involves, showing a better grasp of the challenges ahead. Finally, the playful approach bridged cultural differences and created a common language around change, strengthening participants’ cultural adaptability.
