At times, our job demands rather a lot from us: we are expected to manage projects in a time-efficient manner, to work effectively with our colleagues, to constantly develop new ideas and, of course, to stay resilient at all times – in other words, to be healthy and happy. But at what point do I develop my creativity and get to know my co-workers? How do I practice dealing with mistakes and mastering crises with confidence? Improvisation at work could be the answer. That’s the way it works:
- Raise from your office chair
- Meet with colleagues
- Improvise together
Conscious use of improvisation at work
It’s quite simple: joint improvisation sparks creativity in us and makes us collaborate spontaneously. Improvising means being in the moment: without script, without prior arrangements. What do we need for that? First and foremost, trust in ourselves and in our colleagues – which fortunately comes about almost automatically.
After all, everyone can improvise. Because storytelling and collaboration are in our blood. A performance in front of colleagues triggers an adrenaline rush and activates our instincts. This leads us to develop more self-confidence, become more resilient and grow together as a team.
How improvisation succeeds in the working context
Some rules are needed when improvising. And the first is: Have the courage to fail. Because improvisation lives from imperfection. Those who take this to heart lose their fear to embarrass themselves and feel encouraged to come out of their shell. That’s why every session includes a little warm-up – laughter and silliness being explicitly desired.
Once the participants have gathered momentum, improvisation can also be used to do some serious talking. Since role play makes the team culture visible and enables the team to question entrenched ways of acting, change perspectives and address discontent. The result is not a restructuring process, but genuine trust and understanding. And when did you last laugh heartily with your colleagues?
Collaboration, change and communication
Improvisation can help to develop teams, experience corporate values, understand change processes and train communication skills. Under these conditions, the next project runs even smoother – with more fun, creativity and collaboration. And that’s a promise.
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