4 Ways That Improv for Business Can Work for You

The two big impressions improv leaves on most is that it teaches people how to be funny, or that it’s only suited for those in acting, comedy, and related performance fields. Not true! Improv has surely made headway in the performance space, but the reality is that improv can be applied as a skill more than anything else, and as a result, can be suited for corporate team-building activities. 

In 2017 I pivoted into the corporate world taking a job in digital marketing. While undergoing this transformation I spoke to many professionals with a creative and advertising background. Many mentioned that while in ad school, they were required to take an improv class. This immediately piqued my curiosity. Like many others, I was under the impression that improv was reserved for comedians and actors. I was quickly corrected, though, and told that improv can be applied to any semblance of creativity, no matter the industry, no matter the department, no matter the role an individual has in their career. When I signed up for improv classes I finally understood. 

Improv is Perfect for Corporate Workshops!

As I continued my trajectory in my marketing role (and as an improviser in my free time), I began to see where corporate improv training may be facilitated, plus the goals that may be achieved. It was clear how improv and business go hand-in-hand and below are the four takeaways you can expect when you enlist me for your next corporate workshop:

1. Team Bonding 

Through team-building improv games, members are required to rely on each other to build trust. The fundamental tenet of improv is “Yes, And…”, which shows participants how to trust each other by communicating through a lens of positive problem-solving, hence collaboration. The barriers of spontaneous change and unexpected challenges are almost immediately broken down when team members are faced with supporting each other, rather than negating each other. Additionally, improv reinforces active listening, which is crucial to the strength of a team and how it gels together.

2. Creativity & Idea Generation 

Improv requires participants to clear their minds--to work with a blank canvas, so to speak. This is to help foster simple ideas into well-thought-out concepts. What improv will show team members is that they can build upon ideas that are bounced back and forth by employing the “Yes, And…” nature of improv, not to mention heightening techniques often applied in improv. The threat of failure disappears when team members gain the confidence to continue adding to existing ideas until a problem is solved, or the aim of a project is fully realized. Idea generation will occur more rapidly, seamlessly, and efficiently when a free and easy brainstorming culture is established, and this can all be accomplished with improv techniques!

3. Communication & Public Speaking

It cannot be stated enough how much improv will empower an individual to become a better public speaker. Thinking on your feet, grounding yourself in the present, and becoming more in tune with your thoughts and materials are the residual effects of improv that translate to a level of comfort, especially when presenting in front of an audience. Your presentations at meetings and conferences will benefit tremendously from becoming familiar with improv methods. You will display physical and mental confidence that will bolster your speaking and engagement with your audience. Not only that, you will adapt to high-pressure situations (whether speaking in public or meeting with superiors), comfortably speak off-the-cuff, and quell most anxieties or nervousness.

4. Leadership

The last area of business that improv may help to improve is the effectiveness of leadership. Good leaders are frequently relied on to adapt to change, be flexible, and articulate their direction to several team members. Improv will show you how to ground yourself to seamlessly follow through on objectives. Those seeking leadership positions will gracefully recover from mistakes thanks to the “Yes, And…” approach that improv employs. And for those already in a position of leadership, improv will reinforce and/or introduce new methods of resilience that strengthen your abilities to focus, listen, and remain present. 

Which Improv Exercises for Business are Best for Corporate Workshops?

Now that you have a greater understanding of how improv can improve team-building, trust, and communication, the next question might be, “What do we do during a corporate improv workshop?” A fantastic question! There is no shortage of improv games or exercises designed to appeal to any experience level. During a corporate workshop, the following improv exercises have been shown to enhance the areas written about in the previous section:

One-Word Storytelling

This is a game where participants stand in a circle and piece together a short story, one word at a time. Each person says a word that follows what the previous person in the circle said until a full revolution (or two or three!) is completed around the circle. The goal is to show how to actively listen, collect information, and slow your mind down to work with a group at an acceptable pace. 

“Five Uses For…”

This is a game where a random object is chosen, or a suggestion of an object is given, and one participant lists five uses for it. (For an added bonus, participants may be timed to give their responses.) The fun typically unfolds after the first two uses are listed as the next three tend to veer into nonsense or illogical. This exercise is excellent for warming up the mind for idea generation, thinking on your feet, and reducing the fear of failure. The game is intended for mistakes to be made, but those “mistakes” are valuable learning moments as participants gain a fuller understanding of the brainstorming process and have a lot of fun along the way!

Mirroring

Mirroring is exactly what it sounds like. Participants will pair off and face each other. When the instructor says begin, the two will attempt to mimic what the other person is doing or saying. While it may feel awkward at first, after a bit of time the two participants will begin to grow trust for one another, syncing with each other, until ultimately they will feel a level of comfort with the other person. Aside from building trust, mirroring enhances bonding through trial and error among the participants. 

These three exercises & games are only a few examples of how much fun improv for business purposes can be!

Corporate Improv Workshops with Ryan

For corporate team-building ideas, there is truly nothing better than the fun and ease of improv! Contact me today to learn more about how I conduct my workshops for business. Say “Yes, And…” to your teammates and explore the heights your team can reach!