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How can rules for improv performing help you as a leader? See below:
1. Say yes. Saying “yes” is one of the most important improv rules. Your partner begins; you must go with it and add to it (saying “yes, and…”). At work, respect others’ ideas and creations, then contribute your own.
2. Mistakes are OK. When an improv performer makes a mistake, it is an opportunity to say “yes, and …”. At work, when something doesn’t go well, there are lessons to be learned. Why did it happen? What is the result?
3. Start somewhere. There is no perfect place to begin a scene. At work, losing time due to uncertainty puts a project behind and makes it harder to stay on schedule.
4. Make your partner look good. Improv players rescue someone struggling and don’t hog the scene. The same is true at work: When people focus on doing good work without worrying about credit, the team succeeds.
5. Be in the moment. In improv, one must be focused on the now. At work, listen to understand, not just to reply. In a meeting, participate, don’t check your email.
