“Just try the class, it will be fun. It’s free and if you don’t like it, there is no commitment!” These are the words my friend said to me as I reluctantly decided to sign up for a free improv class in New York City in the early 2000’s.
Never once had I thought about taking an improv class. I wasn’t funny or good on my feet; how in the world was I expected to come up with a scene without lines?
Little did I know there were established rules in improv that would help me move forward in my fear. Those rules later became life lessons for me.
Yes, And….
The number one rule in improv “yes, and…” By saying “yes” first, followed by “and,” improvisers are taught to acknowledge a reality that has been set in place by either a scene partner or an audience member.
Rather than resisting the way a scene has been set up or trying to force it into a different direction, an improviser learns to take what has been handed to them and create an unexpected reality.
Sometimes these realities seem like complete nonsense, but even so, the scene partners work together to build a narrative and move forward. Some of my favorite scenes I performed were those in a fantasy world where I was a superhero or even an inanimate object.
According to comedian Tina Fey, the Rule of Agreement reminds you to “respect what your partner has created” and to at least start from an open-minded place. Start with a YES and see where that takes you.
Learning this tool as an improviser on stage, I also learned to be more flexible in real life. As I got out of my comfort zone, I found the courage to veer off a path I had believed was best for me and found beautiful surprises at the end.
Active Listening
Improv requires active listening. This involves fully concentrating on the speaker to understand the way they are shaping a scene. As a scene partner, I couldn’t just wait for my turn to talk or check out if I didn’t like the way things were going. I had to learn to be fully present in the moment, so that I could respond effectively to the work they were doing.
I didn’t have to agree with my scene partner. Maybe I would have started a scene in a different way or taken a different turn. At that moment, though, that didn’t matter. It was my job to let everyone have a chance to speak, to work with what they offered and to let them know that their contribution mattered.
In life we all have moments when we feel we are not being heard, and are being trailblazed as we try to get our thoughts out. With active listening, the listener must take time to hear each statement until the end. This helps reduce misunderstanding and pivots us towards collaboration.
Building trust as a team
Nothing is more important to an improv group than the team building trust with each other. Scene partners agree to succeed or fail together. They have an unspoken agreement to concentrate on each other in order to understand their contributions, to be willing to say yes and build on it, to always work together and never selfishly. They agree to show up fully even when the path is unclear. These agreements build trust and contribute to something beautiful at the end, and oftentimes funny. Sounds a lot like the workplace or a household, doesn’t it?….
But how does improv help us grow as leaders?
In my everyday world, I have learned how impactful improv can be. Life throws us curve balls; health issues, a move, the loss of a loved one, and many more. Improv helped teach me to be able to adapt, change, collaborate, pivot and be present in the moment. As a huge fan of the craft, I highly suggest that everyone, no matter what your career path, takes an improv class. See how it can change your life as you say “YES! And…..”
