Accepting the unexpected

APPLIED IMPROVISATION:

"I can’t do improvisation… I’m not clever, quick or funny enough…"

If I asked you to make up a story or come up with a creative idea to help your business right now what would you do?

The usual response is to freeze, go a bit wide-eyed and feel every ounce of imagination and creativity drain out of you to be replaced by a blank horror and sweaty palms. This reaction is the major obstacle when you try to tell businesses about the benefits of using Applied Improvisation with their teams…

“I’m not a performer and I hate role play…”

People get hung up on the idea that improv is inextricably linked to comedy, performance and acting, when the reality is that every part of every day is an improvisation. There is no script for any conversation or interaction from the moment you get up to the moment you go to bed. You get a cue, you react. That’s it. Improv is the same. Everyone can do it.

Applied Improvisation allows people to share human reactions without fear of being judged - as we like to say “no one will be killed, ostracised, judged or eaten” - and the only role you play is yourself. It could be described as group generated, spontaneous storytelling.

“I’m no good at things like this…”

Many people have a blind spot around their ability to be imaginative and creative even though as children they did it all the time. Unfortunately, education and work condition us to fear the consequences of failure and to run everything we utter past an internal panel of judges that decide if it is suitable, likely to attract criticism or – cripplingly if you are trying to develop an innovative idea – “good enough”.

If you combine this feeling of only wanting to say and do things that are perfect with an adult’s desire to put forward and hold onto a personal agenda, creativity doesn’t stand a chance. All you are left with is an empty head and sweaty palms.

However, with the right encouragement and a few simple rules everyone can discover what they can achieve when they allow their imagination free rein, always say “yes” and have the support of their colleagues. That’s not to say that you won’t make mistakes or suddenly find yourself stuck. In fact, failing is part of it, but it’s not only OK, it’s actively encouraged. It’s hard to be afraid of something you are encouraged to do.

How can Applied Improvisation help me, my team and my business?

If you want to be more comfortable with uncertainty, faster to adapt in changing environments, and more willing to suggest and try new ideas and build on the suggestions of others, Applied Improvisation is for you. It reinforces the value of supportive networks, the power of imagination and demonstrates that concepts of “failure” and “not being good enough” limit a team’s ability to collaborate, communicate and find novel solutions to the problems they face.

All you have to do is say “yes”…