I’ve been studying, practicing, and performing improv since around 2018. Like “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” And more long form improvised scenes like “Middleditch and Schwartz”.

There’s all kinds of research that points to improvisation helping folks improve communication, creativity, and work better with anxiety and uncertainty.

For example, take this article:

  • Brain-scan studies have shown that improv activates creative brain centers and can help with brain connectivity
  • Psychological studies have shown that improv generally boosts creativity and confidence
  • Studies also show that improv generally decreases stress, anxiety, and uncertainty intolerance

I can attest to all that, personally.

I think that last point is particularly useful at the workplace, especially these days. From the article:

Uncertainty intolerance is the psychological gauge of how not-okay someone is with the unknown. Peter Felsman led a study that showed that, generally, improv helps reduce people’s uncertainty intolerance and that this decrease is linked with a decrease in social anxiety. In short, improv makes many people more comfortable with uncertainty, which makes them more likely to face social situations.

Recently I ran an Applied Improv workshop at my workplace. Applied Improv is using the games, tactics, and mindset of improv specifically at/for the workplace and its business concerns and needs.

There was a new team that formed and the leaders of the team wanted something more than a simple “get to know each other” type exercise.

We played a ton of improv games, and I tried to relate them to topics at work such as storytelling, failing fast (safely), trust, outcomes over output, memory recall, etc.

Feedback was mostly positive and I’ve got interest from other teams to do this again.

Anyone out there that I know who is running Applied Improv workshops at your workplace? Or has anyone participated in one?

I’d love to compare notes, hear your Applied Improv stories, and share my experiences here too.