10 key problems in corporate governance and workplace relations

[Marlon H D Emil]

Hi everyone!

loath as I am to make my first thread a query, I am wracking my brain trying to come up with 10 problems in the executive and business realm which improv can solve. currently I have:

relating to others emotionally

building collaborative team frameworks

active listening

presenting information in an accessible and engaging way

thinking laterally in brainstorming sessions

that's all I've got so far. any suggestions?

[Pubudu Sachithanandan]

Triggering enthusiasm and workplace energy about issues that are considered routine/boring/unpopular

[Gary Michael]

It might have already been said, but...

Understanding and redirecting conflict for positive results

[Mike Bonifer]

Hi Marion,

Here are some areas where improvisation creates value for business:

- Leadership (play multiple roles; change status scene to scene; lead by following; identify productive games)
- Sales (better listening leads to better connections to customers----> improved numbers)
- Innovation (build agreement around solutions)
- Communication (transcend job function and cultures, find common ground, align with shared values)
- Presentations and Pitches (objective performance criteria improve speed, precision, quality of information...heighten energy, tap emotions, etc.)
- Employee satisfaction (improved collaboration; positivity; self-expression through work)
- Efficiency (arrive at solutions more quickly; emphasize useful information; make meetings shorter and more productive)
- Branding (non-linear and distributed brand narratives; in the networked world, the narrative must be improvised, it cannot be scripted)

for more on how improvisation can improve business practices, you can look at our web site www.gamechangers.com

Hope this helps!

Mike

[Henk van der Steen]

Basically: Improv will solve ALL problems! ;)
Certainly at this moment people need Improv-skills more than ever I would say. Using the mindset and skills of the improviser can help to deal with uncertainty and unpredicabillity. Both on a microscale (say one on one converstations) as well as on meso/macro-level (rapid changes in customer-& employee-demands, economy, society, etc). We're pretty useful!

[Belina Raffy]

Hi Marlon,

Paul Z Jackson and I suggest you have a look at the case studies we're putting together on how different community members apply improv.

Best wishes,
Belina

[Paul Z Jackson]

Leading and following. Many improv activities have leading and following (with decision-making as a component), with the skills deployed being easily relatable to 'real' organisational issues of leadership.

[Jerry Kail]

Marlon, this is a good start - and here are a few more that come to mind:

dealing with conflict - applying "Yes And" as a way of overcoming the search for blame and instead exploring how to collaboratively resolve a situation

personal development planning - especially with a focus on leveraging one's strengths rather than fixing one's weaknesses

Appreciative Inquiry - doing strategic planning and organization development by focusing on the positive aspects of the company/department/team

surfacing "undiscussable" issues in a company/dept/team - cueing in to the unspoken messages in our interactions and bringing them out into "center stage"

Becoming aware of the messages we send through our body language (especially status messages)

developing flexibility and resilience in dealing with organizational change

avoiding groupthink - striking out into new areas of inquiry rather than falling back on the tried and true (in stage terms, making strong choices and avoiding falling back on "schtick")

Jerry Kail
http://the-daily-improviser.blogspot.com/

[Marlon H D Emil]

thank you, everyone, for all your suggestions! this has really broadened my views on the dimensions Improv can effect!

i was especially interested in Mike's point that modern technologies have affected branding so that new campaigns must 'improv or die' so to speak.