Improvisation in the Workplace-It’s Really Not About Being Funny!!!!

When people think of improvisation, they think of being funny. Typically, when we see professional improvisation actors they are funny. However, the reason they are funny may not be what you would think. It is actually because the primary objective of an improvisational actor is to make his/her partner(s) look good. Take a minute to think about that. The main goal is “to make his/her partner look good.” In making one’s partner look good, one makes his or herself look good as well.

How easily that can be applied to the business environment! Often, people are focused on what they can do or say to make a lasting impression instead of being focused on the bigger picture of making the team or process look good. In improvisation, they say “it is alright to be a preposition.” That statement is used in reference to a game in which a group of people work together to form a cohesive story each only being allowed to say one word. Instead of trying to make sure that your word is clever and funny, you really should be saying the word that helps the next person keep the story going. Again, this is a powerful thought when used in the context of business. Instead of trying to say something clever and memorable, think of how you can help to make the overall group look good and “make a cohesive story.”

It is these and many other concepts in improvisation that make it such a powerful tool for reinforcing key skills and behaviors in organizations of all types.  Not only does improvisation allow people to step outside of their everyday work situations to “be in the moment” and have some fun, but it also builds strong team dynamics, improves communication, and teaches people the importance of support, honesty and trust. These are skills that everybody would find value in having in any business setting.

Picture this: Two people are asked to take the stage; one as an expert representing an imaginary foreign country, and the other as his/her interpreter. The audience gives a fake name of the country and language that this person speaks, as well as a product that the person is representing. Finally, the group provides a forum at which the expert has been asked to speak. The audience then asks questions of the expert and the interpreter has to translate the questions into the “fake” language. The expert then must provide a response in the same language which the interpreter must translate back to English.

There are a number of important skills reinforced in this exercise. The first skill is listening. In order for the interpreter and the expert to sound like they represent each other, they must listen closely to one another so their verbal language, body language and inflection closely match. The second skill is support. The two people performing the activity have to support one another so they are seen by the audience to be working well together. 

This gives you an idea of the power of improvisation. We have all participated in traditional learning experiences with an instructor, materials, role plays, etc. This format is extremely valuable for some skills. However, imagine being able to fully involve yourself in exercises and live completely in the moment during a learning experience. Improvisation allows you to truly interact in a “fun” way with the people whom you work most closely with so you can better understand one another and encourage better working relationships in the future.

Improvisation can also be used in so many aspects of life. These games can be used with your families, friends, etc. They are easy to facilitate and get people engaged and energized quickly.

Red Rooster Consulting, trained improvisation facilitators who are experienced at providing Improvisation in the Workplace sessions to organizations of all types and sizes. With training from Second City, as well as our strong business and consulting experience, we can make sure that the experience you have is not only fun for your group, but also tied back to your everyday experiences to demonstrate the use of the skills and behaviors learned.

For more information on how Improvisation in the Workplace can be used in your organization, contact  ssitrin@redrooster.net.