Who are you? Why
Whether you're here for the first time, and you're wondering what you can learn from a social worker turned improviser turned corporate consultant... or you've just been informed by your HR department that I'm coming to your office and you're having a mini panic attack, please watch this video. :)
It's a great introduction to me, my philosophy and how improv can help you get better results from your self advocacy efforts at work. PS: If you subscribe to my YouTube channel while you watch, I won't be mad... I might even have a special thank you gift at your training! |
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What is improv?
Improv is a form of comedy where everything is made up on the spot. In order to create something enjoyable, improvisers have to be 100% committed to listening carefully, pivoting on the fly, staying in the present moment and supporting their scene partners above all. The same skills that make a strong improviser make a strong leader and team mate too!
What is mindfulness?
Sometimes groups are nervous about this word, because they associate mindfulness with a spiritual tradition or practice. Mindfulness is simply the act of being fully present in the moment, and noticing your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
There are many kinds of mindfulness activities, and some of them include spiritual practices. However, our time together will not push you into anything other than yourself and the present moment. The mindfulness activities will be spiritually agnostic; in other words, you'll be invited to breathe, focus and practice exploring your ideas and feelings with curiosity instead of judgement.
What is Mindful Improv?
Mindful improv is the combination of skills from both mindfulness practice and improvisation. In my work, I teach groups short form improv games (similar to what you may have seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway) that are chosen to specifically help them practice certain skills like confidence, listening beyond your comfort zone, choosing curiosity, accepting others' ideas, etc. Peppered throughout game play are thoughtful conversations about what skills the participants are noticing as they play, and how those skills may be helpful in real work and life situations.
Throughout our time together I encourage participants to slow down, breathe, notice what they need, notice how they're feeling and acknowledge these things with sincerity. In addition to enriching the conversation, game play and question/answer time, practicing that simple process of naming and acknowledging your feelings without downplaying them for the sake of professionalism pays dividends down the road to participants who embrace it.
What is the flow of a typical &Beyond Training Experience?
Most &Beyond staff training experiences are experiential-based, meaning they adhere to a framework for learning in which the participants are actively involved throughout, and conversation is facilitated by the instructor in a manner that invites participants to make certain key connections for themselves, rather than the instructor "spoon feeding" the most salient points.
I use both slides and a set list, and I work from both. Depending on the training, handouts and resource lists may be disseminated. As an improviser, it's not unusual for me to depart momentarily from the planned content in service of the people in the room, so no two trainings are exactly the same.
Here's a typical training outline:
Won’t this be terrifying and horrible?
Nope. Next question.
Just kidding! Here’s the thing: we’re all improvising all the time. Really what people are afraid of is performing, or feeling the need to say something funny on the spot. It’s helpful to note that &Beyond experiences do not include a performance component - all activities are group-oriented or are conversational two-person activities that are not performed in front of the group. Every activity chosen is specifically designed for non-improvisers and people with no previous experience.
Also, at it’s core, improv is simply about listening and responding with authenticity. It’s best when we’re not trying to be funny! Improvisers are strongly encouraged not to look for the clever quip, or the easy punchline in our scene work - instead, we’re asked to trust the process of listening and building to find something of comedic value. It’s a process that requires collaboration, patience, confidence, strong listening, open-mindedness, flexibility and a commitment to observing our surroundings through a lens of curiosity instead of judgement. When improvisers do those things well, the result is an enjoyable night of comedy - when teams do those things well the result is a healthy, thriving culture that propels the company forward.
Where do the trainings happen?
They can happen at your office if you have a suitable conference room or gathering area. If you’re in the greater Pittsburgh, PA or Asheville, NC areas, I can recommend venues that I’ve found to work well.
Why are the workshops capped for # of participants?
General employee workshops are capped at 20 participants, because this creates a space where there are enough people so that no one feels singled out, but not enough people that anyone can hide. This limit ensures that your team gets what they need most out of this experience: human connection! It’s worth the investment to breakdown into smaller groups if you have more than 20 people that you’d like to have in the program - you will get what you need out of the smaller ratio. Programs for managers and leaders are capped at 10 people to ensure that there’s a greater ability for dialogue, feedback and real-time adjustment to meet the needs of the group.
Why is 100% participation is required?
Improv requires participants to be in a creative headspace rather than a performance headspace. The performance head space is where anxiety, judgement and self-consciousness live. The creative head space is where curiosity, vulnerability and collaboration can happen - that’s what we want! Therefore, if you’re in the room, you have to be in the process.
Improv is a form of comedy where everything is made up on the spot. In order to create something enjoyable, improvisers have to be 100% committed to listening carefully, pivoting on the fly, staying in the present moment and supporting their scene partners above all. The same skills that make a strong improviser make a strong leader and team mate too!
What is mindfulness?
Sometimes groups are nervous about this word, because they associate mindfulness with a spiritual tradition or practice. Mindfulness is simply the act of being fully present in the moment, and noticing your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
There are many kinds of mindfulness activities, and some of them include spiritual practices. However, our time together will not push you into anything other than yourself and the present moment. The mindfulness activities will be spiritually agnostic; in other words, you'll be invited to breathe, focus and practice exploring your ideas and feelings with curiosity instead of judgement.
What is Mindful Improv?
Mindful improv is the combination of skills from both mindfulness practice and improvisation. In my work, I teach groups short form improv games (similar to what you may have seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway) that are chosen to specifically help them practice certain skills like confidence, listening beyond your comfort zone, choosing curiosity, accepting others' ideas, etc. Peppered throughout game play are thoughtful conversations about what skills the participants are noticing as they play, and how those skills may be helpful in real work and life situations.
Throughout our time together I encourage participants to slow down, breathe, notice what they need, notice how they're feeling and acknowledge these things with sincerity. In addition to enriching the conversation, game play and question/answer time, practicing that simple process of naming and acknowledging your feelings without downplaying them for the sake of professionalism pays dividends down the road to participants who embrace it.
What is the flow of a typical &Beyond Training Experience?
Most &Beyond staff training experiences are experiential-based, meaning they adhere to a framework for learning in which the participants are actively involved throughout, and conversation is facilitated by the instructor in a manner that invites participants to make certain key connections for themselves, rather than the instructor "spoon feeding" the most salient points.
I use both slides and a set list, and I work from both. Depending on the training, handouts and resource lists may be disseminated. As an improviser, it's not unusual for me to depart momentarily from the planned content in service of the people in the room, so no two trainings are exactly the same.
Here's a typical training outline:
- Introduction to improv and why it is deeply transformative when applied to the workplace (and to all of life!)
- Staff are guided through introductory mindful improv activities
- Brief discussion on the activities and time for initial questions
- Training content is delivered (EG: The Yes And Leadership Model™, Growing Through Confrontation, Sexual Harassment & Ethics, The New Leader Training, or Making it Matter: Embracing Diversity Once the Hiring is Done)
- Examples are given of how improv skills equip participants to execute on what was learned in the training
- Staff are guided through additional activities chosen specifically to practice the content just delivered
- Closing activity
- Distribution feedback surveys, resources and any remaining handouts. Surveys are to be collected at the training. (I know you think you'll scan and send them later... but like, you probably won't :) )
Won’t this be terrifying and horrible?
Nope. Next question.
Just kidding! Here’s the thing: we’re all improvising all the time. Really what people are afraid of is performing, or feeling the need to say something funny on the spot. It’s helpful to note that &Beyond experiences do not include a performance component - all activities are group-oriented or are conversational two-person activities that are not performed in front of the group. Every activity chosen is specifically designed for non-improvisers and people with no previous experience.
Also, at it’s core, improv is simply about listening and responding with authenticity. It’s best when we’re not trying to be funny! Improvisers are strongly encouraged not to look for the clever quip, or the easy punchline in our scene work - instead, we’re asked to trust the process of listening and building to find something of comedic value. It’s a process that requires collaboration, patience, confidence, strong listening, open-mindedness, flexibility and a commitment to observing our surroundings through a lens of curiosity instead of judgement. When improvisers do those things well, the result is an enjoyable night of comedy - when teams do those things well the result is a healthy, thriving culture that propels the company forward.
Where do the trainings happen?
They can happen at your office if you have a suitable conference room or gathering area. If you’re in the greater Pittsburgh, PA or Asheville, NC areas, I can recommend venues that I’ve found to work well.
Why are the workshops capped for # of participants?
General employee workshops are capped at 20 participants, because this creates a space where there are enough people so that no one feels singled out, but not enough people that anyone can hide. This limit ensures that your team gets what they need most out of this experience: human connection! It’s worth the investment to breakdown into smaller groups if you have more than 20 people that you’d like to have in the program - you will get what you need out of the smaller ratio. Programs for managers and leaders are capped at 10 people to ensure that there’s a greater ability for dialogue, feedback and real-time adjustment to meet the needs of the group.
Why is 100% participation is required?
Improv requires participants to be in a creative headspace rather than a performance headspace. The performance head space is where anxiety, judgement and self-consciousness live. The creative head space is where curiosity, vulnerability and collaboration can happen - that’s what we want! Therefore, if you’re in the room, you have to be in the process.
Have a different question?
