Monday 30 November 2015

You think you're up for it?! Let's talk Improv in the workplace with an expert in this area


Looking for a fun, interactive way to boost employee creativity in the workplace? Have you ever thought about improvisation-based techniques? It might just be a less-structured way to loosen up the status quo and create some team-bonding at the same time.

 Why To Consider Improv


David Leonhardt of Ghostwriters for Hire is a fan of its’ ability to challenge: “I love improv! It is both fun and challenging, but it is hard work and can very tiring if you have to do it for long.  Improv is all about thinking on your feet and paying attention to the person or people you are working with.  You train yourself to be hyper-aware of what they are doing, and to direct your actions or words according to what you observe them doing.”

In the most recent Life/Career Corner, I had a visit with, Lori Pearlstein, former actor, casting director and, yes, standup comedian.  This versatile Corporate Trainer has a variety of experiences that contribute to her strength in this role:


Take your choice: Different types of workshops for teams 

  1. Brainstorming
  2. Presentation Skills/Spontaneous Speaking
  3. Team Building/Conflict Resolution
  4. Training the Trainers/Making the Sale


If you’re still not sure about  ‘shakin’ up the status quo, here’s some feedback on improv possibilities from BGDMarketing:

"Creativity is the key to innovation in business.
There is a saying in business that creativity and innovation differentiates people from succeeding and failing. One of the troubles that businesses have is their inability to create and adapt to different situations. Employees and staff get used to routines and get comfortable in their current system. The mentality is usually 'If it isn't broke, then don't fix it'. But if creativity and innovation isn't pursued, then the business is unlikely to grow in stature and value. The book 'Who moved my cheese' preaches this. Improv is a great way to stimulate creativity among employees since they tend to focus more on function than creativity to add value to a business. 
Improv can help to develop solutions to problems, suggest new workflows, formulate new product ideas and even change the dynamic and culture of a business. All of these add to the positive operational efficiency of the business, resulting in increased productivity and value output.”

It's about your goals for your organization, and you can visit Playworks for more background on whether improvisation can contribute positively to your current workplace culture.

Steffi Black is a Life/Career Coach and Kindness Advocate for Schools and Corporations. She hosts weekly interviews for Life/Career Corner and you can check out www.steffiblackcoaching.com for information on her signature talks to corporations and Kindness Presentations/Workshops that help bring in a more caring,compassionate culture.


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