In this short video, Max Dickins explains why improv matters, and shares some tips you can use in your daily life.
Short on Time
Studies have shown that businesses which can quickly adapt have a competitive edge over those who fail to react in the face of change. In addition, collaboration and communication are important prerequisites to a cohesive team and, as we know, cohesion within a team is tantamount to organisational success. The best improvisers are masters of innovation, adaptability, collaboration and communication, generating ideas together on the fly. Team players to their core, they consistently put the needs of the ensemble before individual ego as they build a show live on stage. Whilst improvisers make everything up on the spot, they still spend many hours in rehearsal practising the
THREE KEY SKILLS OF IMPROV:
- Listening
- Accepting Ideas
- Creative Agility
Below, we’ll talk you through how these three key skills of improv could give your business a competitive edge, higher growth rate, stronger work culture and better employee retention.
1. Listening
Whilst you might think generating ideas on the spot is all about being clever and funny with what you say, it’s actually the opposite. It’s about what you hear. The most skilled and innovative improvisers are those who are truly present. They really listen to what their scene partner is saying, and not just to the words. Inspiration comes from every detail: the tone and inflection of their partner’s speech, their body language and facial expressions, and, of course, the audience’s response to the above. This type of listening, one where other people’s ideas can really land on you, affecting what you say and do next, is a vital skill in business too. In work environments where people are sharing and developing ideas, our contributions are severely limited if we are not fully present. As with improvisation, the art of truly listening at work expands beyond taking in ideas at face value. It involves picking up on the tone our colleagues and clients are using, as well as what they are conveying with their body language. By fully tuning into the people you are working with, and all they are saying, you will respond far more effectively than if you are inwardly planning your next point or multitasking on your phone. Taking in and responding to external details gives you a compass for navigating in the unknown and will allow you to make decisions in the room’s best interests.
Key Takeaways:
- Holistic Communication: Picking up on non-verbal cues and tones, not just words, fosters better understanding, collaboration, and connection between individuals.
- Be present: In meetings, avoid planning what you are going to say next or external distractions like your phone.
- Let other people’s ideas land on you: When you are truly listening, what other people are offering will impact what you say and do next, allowing for better responses and decision-making.
2. Accepting Ideas
The fundamental philosophy of all improv is saying ‘Yes, and’. This isn’t about agreeing with everything the other person says though, it’s all about accepting the idea and building on it. In improv we explore other people’s ideas unconditionally and without judgement. In business this looks like suspending criticism so it’s the last step in the process, not the first. Too often we dismiss ideas before they have even been explored. Enthusiastically accepting ideas, and adding to them, creates a more collaborative environment where ideas are expanded on without judgement. A vital part of being able to do this lies in the fact that every improv player has the same status during a performance. Whilst improv groups often have a creative director or coach leading rehearsals, during a show this status evaporates. Each player has equal control in the direction that the show takes and every idea is committed to and developed. Leaders in the business world do, of course, bring exceptional value. They provide much needed vision and direction, inspire and motivate employees to achieve their best and are responsible for making informed decisions to guide the company. However, just like in an improv show, we encourage teams to level out the status in the room when brainstorming or problem solving. This allows everyone to bring their perspective to the table, and provides the opportunity to approach problems from multiple different angles, allowing a fuller picture of the challenge at hand.
Key Takeaways:
- Accept and build on other people’s ideas: suspending your judgement prevents potentially innovative ideas from being dismissed before they have been fleshed out.
- Encourage equal status: In team brainstorming sessions this will help companies to explore and expand on diverse perspectives and innovative solutions.
3. Creative Agility
The final skill of the improviser is learning how to be more agile. Improvisers practise this skill by celebrating mistakes. We don’t ignore them, or get embarrassed by them, we celebrate them, because they often lead to wonderful discoveries we never would have got to without them. We treat everything as an offer: both the great successes and the failures. This is only possible in teams built on collaboration, not competition. Where the atmosphere is one of safety, trust and support. Improvisers know we’ll be supported on stage, no matter what, and that encourages us to take risks. In business this looks like taking care with how you react to the ‘mistakes’ of your colleagues. Judgement and ridicule fosters an environment of fear, and so often fear holds us back from our true creative potential. Businesses can build fearless teams by encouraging a ‘Group Mind’: the collective intelligence of the ensemble working together is far greater than the intelligence of one individual member. Egos are left at the door and instead everyone takes responsibility for making their colleagues look good. This creates a positive atmosphere built on a culture of collaboration where individuals feel supported to take creative risks and where ‘mistakes’ can lead to innovative new discoveries and solutions.
Key Takeaways:
- Celebrate Mistakes: Embracing and celebrating mistakes can lead to unexpected and valuable discoveries.
- Build a Safe, Collaborative Environment: Teams that prioritise safety, trust, and support encourage risk-taking and creativity.
- Cultivate a ‘Group Mind’: Great work is produced by great teams. Encouraging collective intelligence and responsibility over individual ego is likely to lead to more innovative ideas.
Conclusion
The final skill of the improviser is learning how to be more agile. Improvisers practise this skill by celebrating mistakes. We don’t ignore them, or get embarrassed by them, we celebrate them, because they often lead to wonderful discoveries we never would have got to without them. We treat everything as an offer: both the great successes and the failures. This is only possible in teams built on collaboration, not competition. Where the atmosphere is one of safety, trust and support. Improvisers know we’ll be supported on stage, no matter what, and that encourages us to take risks. In business this looks like taking care with how you react to the ‘mistakes’ of your colleagues. Judgement and ridicule fosters an environment of fear, and so often fear holds us back from our true creative potential. Businesses can build fearless teams by encouraging a ‘Group Mind’: the collective intelligence of the ensemble working together is far greater than the intelligence of one individual member. Egos are left at the door and instead everyone takes responsibility for making their colleagues look good. This creates a positive atmosphere built on a culture of collaboration where individuals feel supported to take creative risks and where ‘mistakes’ can lead to innovative new discoveries and solutions.
Key Takeaways:
- Celebrate Mistakes: Embracing and celebrating mistakes can lead to unexpected and valuable discoveries.
- Build a Safe, Collaborative Environment: Teams that prioritise safety, trust, and support encourage risk-taking and creativity.
- Cultivate a ‘Group Mind’: Great work is produced by great teams. Encouraging collective intelligence and responsibility over individual ego is likely to lead to more innovative ideas.