The Brightlink Improv Experience Recap
“Spaghetti and Meatballs”
First off, thank you ALL for being vulnerable and putting yourselves out there for something of an unorthodox learning experience. Amanda and I would be thrilled to work with the Brightlink again in the future to continue to build on this important work of teaming and interpersonal communications. We have compiled takeaways for you here. The goal here is to provide ways to continue the learning, because this kind of learning and behavior change requires PRACTICE. We spent a lot of time discovering the power of being adaptable, eye contact, creativity, building something as a team and creating time and space for human connection, so let’s not lose anything, but instead keep building on it.
Keep in touch. Feel free to connect with us and follow the work and opportunities to keep practicing.
Session Recap
Objectives for Session:
Celebration! Making time and space to recognize the good work being done.
Recognizing the critical role of human connection in today’s business landscape.
Tools and techniques for Connecting in a virtual world.
Navigating change is the new normal in business, let’s make it our superpower.
Using Empathy to create Trust
“All of Us is Better than One of Us” mindset
Improv Anchors:
Being Present, Taking care of each other-Improv teaches us how to focus and be present noticing things about each other helps build a supportive culture. When we make time and space for play and getting to know each other, we feel a sense of support that helps during times of change.
Communication and Collaboration- The art of improvisation requires us to invest in each other interpersonal communications like listening, empathy and investing in what’s important to others and not just our agenda.
Empathy, Adjusting to the needs of the room-Even when we are not using our words, we can communicate and accomplish a lot through sheer trust and not hesitating.
Human Connection and Eye Contact-Being virtual and not connecting as much in person can make human connection difficult. When we meet challenges or experience a lot of changes, checking in with people with genuine interest through something as simple as eye contact, can have huge impact. It’s a sign that we care and we will get each other’s back in a pinch.
Taking care of each other "Making each other look good and insanely smart"! Improvisers learn quickly that in order to take creative risks and collaborate at the levels needed to create improv on the stage, you must become each other’s caretaker. We support and take care of each other so there is no worry of failing or looking silly. What if we all encouraged and supported each other this way at work?
Adaptability and Resilience Our brains develop patterns quickly and how even minor changes in patterns can feel disruptive. Habits are powerful and playing games that purposely disrupt patterns can increases mental agility and psychological adaptability. These are essential for doing improv but even more important to a successful life in which we will have to navigate change that we do not see coming.
Listening and Empathy
Video on Empathy Listening and Empathy go hand in hand, sometimes we think we are listening but we aren't truly making it about the other person. We can't fix it, sometimes we just have to listen, show empathy.
Video on Listening- Sometimes listening is silent. People want to he heard not fixed.
If you want to be liked, loved and respected, listen like your life depends on it.
Most people think that they are good listeners, however more often than not, we are not really listening, we are just waiting to respond.
I think we also forget that listening is more than hearing the words that someone is speaking, and we are not listening to the whole person.
Something like 93% of all communication is nonverbal. This means that words aren’t as important than we might think. Tone, facial expression and body language are all powerful forms of expression.
Research suggest that we remember 25-50% of what we hear. That means when we talk to our boss or colleagues for 10 minutes, they pay attention to less than half of the conversation.
We all underestimate the power of being a good listener.
Listening Challenge Challenge yourself to try this exercise as much as possible throughout your day. It works best when you are in a one on one meeting or in a casual capacity with a colleague or work mate. You might not want to use it in a staff meeting, or folks might go thinking you've been hitting the happy stuff. It's simple. When someone is speaking to you, wait 5 seconds before responding. Count in your head down from 5, and then respond. Sounds easy right? Just you wait and reap the results of what might surprise you.
Practicing and Reinforcements
Continue to bring play into your meetings both virtual and in person. You can play any of the games we did virtual or live and I can walk you through how to set them up virtually, just send me a note. There are a ton of other improv based games you can explore to continue to practice the concepts we worked with. Some of my favorite resources for games, activities and workshops are listed here for you.
Take improv classes, it’s the gym for your social skills and strengthening those muscles will allow you to more easily access them in the moments that matter in your work and life.
Amanda teaches virtual and live classes in Atlanta so check out her website for classes like this storytelling one coming up in January.
Other Atlanta based theatres for classes or just checking out a show are Dad’s Garage and Whole World Theatre.
