Compliance Training, But Make It Engaging

Quick poll: Raise your hand if you like taking compliance training. 

I can’t see you, dear readers, and you can’t see me; but my hunch is that very few hands just went up. That’s not surprising. According to Gallup, only 23% of employees rate their compliance training as “excellent,” and just 11% say it actually impacts how they do their jobs. Too often, compliance training feels like a check-the-box exercise — dry, repetitive, and disconnected from real-world decision-making. 

Because compliance training is mandatory, it’s easy to ignore the fact that it must be engaging. What if we flipped the script, focusing less on the mandatory nature, and more on retention?  

As Harper Wells notes in Training magazine, it’s up to leadership and learning professionals to design compliance training that is meaningful, actionable, and relevant — connecting the dots from regulations to real-world responsibilities. It’s not impossible; we can pull employees in with compelling narratives, high-stakes decision-making, and immersive challenges.  

We can get there by borrowing a few tricks from a surprising inspiration: Reality TV. Think about it: This genre is built on keeping millions of viewers glued to their screens. Here are a few strategies we can adopt.

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: Gamifying Compliance 

Say goodbye to passive, click-through learning and turn compliance into a competition. Shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race thrive on challenges, teamwork, and high-stakes problem-solving — so why not use the same mechanics?

How it could look:

• Team-based compliance challenges where learners solve real-world ethical dilemmas. 

• Leaderboards, time-based tasks, and small rewards to boost engagement. 

• Escape room-style scenarios that require employees to use compliance knowledge to “win.”

Scenario-Based Role Play: Putting Training in Context 

Employees tune out theoretical policies — but drop them into a high-stakes simulation, and suddenly, compliance gets real. Undercover Boss and Shark Tank thrive on real-world problem-solving under pressure. 

How it could look:  

• Role-play compliance scenarios from multiple perspectives (e.g., manager, customer, regulator). 

• Employees make real-time decisions and get feedback from peers or leadership.  

• High-pressure “pitch-style” challenges, where employees defend compliance decisions to execs.
  

Drama = Retention: The Power of Storytelling 

Let’s be honest: The Real Housewives can turn even the pettiest argument into a legendary saga. Why? Because drama is memorable, and compliance training should be, too.   

How it could look:  

• Frame lessons as an ongoing, dramatic story — keep employees invested in “What happens next?” 

• Use case studies with escalating stakes to make decisions feel real. 

• Show consequences of ethical vs. unethical behavior — because reality TV proves that no decision is without a fallout.

True Story. Seven Strangers. Real Compliance Lessons. 

MTV’s The Real World pioneered unscripted, real-life storytelling, making it a perfect model for compliance training. Instead of hypothetical scenarios, why not follow real employees navigating compliance dilemmas? 

How it could look:  

• Capture real compliance challenges on video — employees discuss decisions they’ve faced. 

• Encourage discussions: “How would you handle this situation?” 

• Follow up with real consequences and lessons learned.

That’s a No from Me, Dawg: Let Learners Decide 

Shows like American Idol and The Voice keep viewers engaged by letting them vote and influence outcomes. Compliance training should do the same.  

How it could look:  

• Live polling and audience voting on compliance dilemmas. 

• Branching decision trees, where employees shape their own training path. 

• Peer assessments where teams debate and justify their ethical choices.

Watch What Happens: The Future of Compliance Training 

Reality TV proves that real-world challenges, high stakes, and active participation make for unforgettable experiences — so why not apply the same energy to compliance training? 

Start small. Experiment with interactive modules, storytelling, and gamification. Get leadership involved to reinforce a culture of compliance, and track success beyond just completion rates. And remember: The goal isn’t just to check a box. It’s to create training that employees actually want to engage with.

Ready to make compliance training binge-worthy? Let’s make it happen. Contact Ardent Learning today!