You may be familiar with improvisational comedy, made popular by Whose Line Is It Anyway? What fans of improv don’t always know is that there are many communication lessons embedded in this style of comedy that can be applied in your relationships and at work.
From the Playbook: If you have ever been to an improv show, you may have wondered how the comedians come up with elaborate storylines on the spot. Much of this is due to a central theme in improv called “yes, and …” (watch this engaging 11-minute Ted Talk for a more thorough description on this topic). Improv comedians use this tool to build on ideas and promote creativity. We can do this at work. The next time you have a conversation with someone at work, try building on what they say by implementing some simple yet challenging tools:
1. Accept offers: Treat contributions from others like an offer, accepting ideas rather than criticizing them. If it comes time to be critical later, the other person will be more likely to see you as a thought partner and a contributor to the idea rather than someone trying to block their contributions. This is a great way to decrease defensiveness in exploring and brainstorming options.
2. Make others look good: It is amazing how much better your relationships will be if you focus on making others look good rather than making yourself look good. The next time a colleague shares an idea or a thought, help make them – and their idea – look good. This helps establish mutual support and trust in relationships.
3. Set brainstorming ground rules: If it feels awkward to try “yes, and…” on your own, ask your team to adopt it as a ground rule when brainstorming. Suggest starting with brainstorming and developing of ideas, where ideas can be freely explored and developed without critique. When a list of developed ideas is made, establish criteria to critique and evaluate which ideas are the most suitable. This can improve engagement and psychological safety for participation, and reduce conflict or tension when there is disagreement.
Can you do this even if you’re not an improv comedian? YES, AND … you should! It will prompt stronger relationships, creative problem solving, and more active engagement.
