What exactly are Improv and Applied Improv?
Improvisation (improv) is the practice of being in the moment and responding with the concept of “yes, and”. Yes, and requires a person to listen to what was just said, respond (the yes), and add to it (the and). Applied improv is taking improv skills and principles off the stage and into the workplace, relationships, and life.
After doing this work for the last 30 years I have learned that everything in life is a practice and it matters what we practice. I’m going to guess that only 0.1% of your day so far was scripted before you climbed out of bed. Which means most of your day, and your life, is improvised…but we don’t actually practice how to do it well or efficiently.
Applied improv gives participants that chance to practice. Because how they show up when under low stakes while playing in an improv exercise is the same way they’ll show up when under stress in the office. Improv is an opportunity to observe their stress patterns and shift out of them before the big game. We provide practical, real skills that employees can immediately use to directly move themselves and your business toward greater efficiency, teamwork, productivity, and profitability.
Look, if you’re hesitant, I get it. You’re worried that Gary in accounting might not be up for this. I assure you, if I could successfully get a room full of 25 hard, stuffy Generals at the Pentagon to laugh, enjoy and embrace applied improv concepts, Gary will be easy.
Learning Objectives:
Every improv program we do is customized to your individual organization so we will develop exercises tailored for your requirements. Here’s a handful of learning objectives we often encounter, resulting in improved or increased:
- Leadership skills
- Confidence
- Resilience
- Ability to tap into and trust intuition/flow/the zone
- Ability to think on your feet
- Ability to be in the present moment
- Self-awareness
- Distinction between choosing a response (instead of an immediate reaction)
- Ability to foster team building
- Facilitation and public speaking skills
- Creativity and innovation
- Awareness of unconscious patterns of behavior
- Communication skills
- Leadership presence
- Active listening
- Problem solving
- Understanding of Hard/Easy vs. Right/Wrong
- Trust amongst co-workers
What sets Mike apart:
- Mike’s embodiment of the unique blend of serious and play; merging the hard skills of management and logic with the softer skills of creativity, intuition and heart
- The ability to break down sometimes complex subjects into bite-sized chunks that all clients can easily understand
- 30 years of experience as a leader creating workshop content and leading conversations on collaboration, communication, and creativity
- 22-years of experience and expertise as a senior officer leader in the US Air Force IT and Cyberspace world
- 15-years’ expertise as an improv performer and instructor around the US
- 15-years expertise as a Master Somatic Leadership Coach
- Quality that comes from dedication to the craft and science of improv, so much so Mike is getting an actual PhD in improv
- The ability to break down complex subjects into bite-sized chunks that everyone can easily understand
You don’t need to ‘be funny’ to do improv. Al you need is to show up, be willing to try, and wear comfortable shoes.