What is Improvisation?

Have you seen the show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Those folks are classically trained improv actors. These are skills that can be taught to anyone---especially leaders!

Improvisational Comedy is the spontaneous invention of scenes and games based on suggestions from the audience or workshop participants. Scenes are co-created in the moment by two or more players. Theater games are used by actors to teach improv skills and generate creative problem solving abilities. Improv  involves the application of a number of creative thinking skills, communication skills, theater games, and teamwork abilities under pressure - not unlike the demands of today’s political and government environments.

Many of the techniques, strategies and methods that enable improv actors to do this successfully on stage can be applied to governing situations for elected and public officials.

Improv for Leaders improv workshop:

 . A playful and relaxed frame of mind while bringing flexibility to new ideas.

.  Suspension of critical self-judgment while in the spontaneous thinking mode.

.  Active and responsive listening to the other players with whom one is co-creating scenes and games.

.   Making each other look as good as possible. Operating from the height of your intelligence.

.  Acceptance of a new idea or offer from the point of view of exploring the possibilities it has to offer. Operating from a point of view of "Yes, and", which is so essential to build agreement in improv.Collabertive effort of the entire group.

.  Diverging out from the obvious into the far reaches of imagination. "What if ___?"

.  Reframing circumstances to explore the infinite number of creative possibilities.

.  A willingness to take chances, to risk appearing foolish. A deliberate shift of focus, perspective and point of view.

.  An understanding that no choice or offer is absolutely right or wrong, though each may provide its own unique productive balance in a given situation - and this can often be discovered only through experimentation.

The wonder and joy of Improvisation is....

The thrill of success - the enhanced self-assurance and wonderful confidence that comes from knowing one can think on one’s feet, working successfully in a group and respond flexibly to whatever creative challenge is presented, and pull off a successful presentation or project.

If you are a lawyer, try Improv for Lawyers.