I took up improv in 2020. Here are my top three leadership lessons.
I am a dabbler. I like to try different things and stretch my comfort zone. Improv was on my bucket list for a while. My intent was simply to learn new skills, get out of my head, and meet new people. So I was surprised to discover the sheer number of improv principles that have parallels to both leadership and mindfulness meditation. Improv can be a safe space for emerging and seasoned leaders to practice leadership skills in a non-threatening environment while having ton of fun.
Building a platform
Most people are familiar with the concept of “yes, and”. Improv thrives on the concept of accepting offers to build a scene. As newbie improv artists, there’s often self-inflicted pressure to have the “perfect” response. However, for a scene to “breathe”, it’s critical to nail down the who, what, and where of a scene. Success of a scene often depends on a solid and a clear platform. At the end of the day, improv is a team sport, and it’s crucial to work with your team to build that stable platform. Once the platform is developed, the jokes deliver themselves.
Similarly, when initiating new projects at work, it is crucial to build a solid platform which includes creating a sense of urgency, building a powerful guiding coalition, and developing the vision. These are critical steps to ensure buy-in and improve the “stickiness” of a new project or change initiative. By building this foundational layer with your team, you can increase the chance of success of that new initiative or project that you are leading. Kotter’s 8-step change model is an excellent treatise in the art of “building a platform” when leading new projects.
Chivalry
Chivalry means not clinging to your own ideas, vision, or status. It’s about giving up control so others can co-develop the platform and make it their own. Improvisation relies heavily on scene partners embracing your offer to advance the scene. In fact, when I make suggestion, I am often hoping someone will run with it to move the scene in new and exciting directions.
In a work setting, we often are passionate about our ideas and resist deviations from that “perfect” vision. However, leaders can apply chivalry by soliciting feedback to build upon their ideas and co-develop solutions. Being open to others’ influence can be a powerful tool to build rapport and influence over the short- and long-term.
Leaders should allow themselves and their ideas to be changed by others and be happy to be forced to change
Rejoicing failure
No one likes to fail. Fear of failure is deeply ingrained in our psyches. We go out of our way to avoid failure. Improv is a very practical way to practice failure and be comfortable with it. To fail is human, and improv is one of the few places where it’s celebrated.
The great thing about improv is that failure is encouraged. Blew that scene? No problems. That joke fell flat? Dust yourself off and move on. If the first rule of improv is “yes, and”, the second rule is most definitely, “don’t be afraid to fail”. I would argue that the biggest laughs in improv are generated when a scene fails spectacularly, and the improv artists and audience break out in laughter.
Similarly, we all go through our daily lives worrying about whether we are good enough, liked enough, or smart enough. Often, we choose to not speak up in meetings because of the fear of rejection, offending someone, or being ridiculed. These are all legitimate fears, but improv can teach you that in failure there’s strength and failure can be a launch point for great ideas to be generated.
So, if you are “improv curious”, I highly recommend finding your local improv school and joining a drop-in class. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people, get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and practice leadership skills in a safe environment.
